Interview with Bruce Tyrrell

Bruce Tyrrell

Bruce Tyrrell is the Chief Executive of one of the largest family-owned wine companies in Australia. He has transformed Tyrrell's Wines a into a major player in the domestic and international wine markets.

Established in 1858 in the Hunter Valley Tyrrell's Wines have won many awards, most recently dominating the 2006 Hunter Valley Wine Show, taking out 9 trophies, 15 Gold Medals, 7 Silver Medals and 8 Bronze.

Bruce was a pioneer in exporting Australian wines to the world. From a frustrating start Bruce's persistence paid off and Tyrrell's now exports to 30 countries around the world.

Bruce has long taken a leadership role in the Australian wine industry and is involved in a number of industry bodies and research activities.

He has also taken a strong interest in the link between the wine and tourism industries and is currently Chairman of the Australian Wine Tourism Alliance. He has provided financial support to the local Tourist Information Centre and funded an annual scholarship through Tourism Training Australia.

Bruce has also contributed significantly to charities, personally and through Tyrrell's Wines. He supports a variety of causes such as the Starlight Foundation; the Royal Flying Doctor Service; the Victor Chang Heart Research Institute; the Heart Foundation of Australia; the Cancer Council of New South Wales; and the Royal Agricultural Society Easter Show.

1. What was your first job?
After school I was rounding up the cows for milking, feeding the chooks and chopping the wood. My first paid job was working behind cellar door sales at the winery.

2. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Probably always wanted to be in the wine industry as it attracts some wonderful people and the product leads to so much enjoyment. Other than that, I wanted to play Rugby League for Australia.

3. What does your job involve now?
Proprietor/Managing Director of Tyrrell's Vineyards, which is a 500,000 case per annum winery employing approximately 110 full time employees with sales offices and vineyards spread across the country.

My job now involves covering everything from farming to exporting and a considerable amount of travelling that comes with that.

4. Are you thinking of trying your hand in anything else?
When I get into my 60's I would like to be spending more time on the cattle side of our business.

5. What is the biggest challenge you face at work?
Having just finished vintage in the Hunter Valley, the biggest challenge has got to be the weather. On a commercial side, the concentration of ownership of both retail and wholesale levels of the world liquor industry. The current level of the Australian dollar is not helping export to grow.

6. What is the best part of your job?
The part I enjoy most has just finished, which is vintage where you are dealing with the weather and attempting to pick all of your grapes in the best condition to make the best wine possible.

7. What is your advice for people starting out in your industry?
At the moment, I am not sure it is a terrific career move if you want to start your own vineyard and winery. There are still, however, plenty of places for good viticulturists/ vineyard managers and there will always be a need for innovative, successful, sales and marketing people.

8. What makes you happy?
Seeing some great fruit in the vineyard and being able to follow it through to a first class bottle of wine on one of the world's best restaurant wine lists.