New wine leaders’ roots run deep
New Zealand Winegrowers has appointed two new leaders to its board: Fabian Yukich as chair, and Emma Taylor as deputy chair.
Fabian Yukich and Emma Taylor.
Yukich comes from a strong wine legacy, growing up in a pioneering family that established the original Montana Wines winery in West Auckland.
His father Frank Yukich made the bold move of planting the first large scale vineyards in Marlborough and his foresight is now recognised as a pivotal moment for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and its subsequent rise to fame around the world.
Fabian Yukich’s own professional career has spanned winemaking, sales, project management and executive leadership positions.
He has served on the board of NZ Winegrowers since being elected in 2012, most recently as deputy chair since 2020.
“Underpinned by the consistent high quality and consumer acceptance of its products, NZ wine has seen extraordinary growth in the past three decades.
“It is one of the country’s most successful export industries. As chair of the board, I believe we need to bring a strong focus on providing the necessary support for our members to remain at the forefront of quality, innovation, and sustainability in winegrowing.”
Emma Taylor brings a wealth of expertise and experience from a grower’s perspective. Winner of the 2007 Young Viticulturist and Young Horticulturist of the Year, her career has gone from strength to strength, with various viticulture roles at Villa Maria and later Vineyard Plants Ltd.
In 2020 Taylor launched a viticulture consultancy business and currently works with a range of clients as well as being viticulture business manager for Craigmore Sustainables.
Giving back to the industry has always been a priority. She has spent significant time and energy on the Young Viticulturist committee, pan sector water allocation committees, and was heavily involved in the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery.
In recognition of her services to the region, Taylor was inducted as a Fellow of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers this year, and she is also a director of the Bragato Research Institute (BRI).
“The future of NZ wine lies in our ability to protect our borders through vigilance with biosecurity, and to invest in research and development to provide innovative solutions for our members’ long-term sustainability,” she says.