Ex-chief winemaker at Australia’s Chapel Hill takes Haselgrove CEO post

Australia's Haselgrove has appointed Michael Fragos, the erstwhile main winemaker astatine Chapel Hill Wines, arsenic CEO and caput winemaker astatine the McLaren Vale winery.

In a statement, the concern said Fragos would pb Haselgrove aft the departure of erstwhile CEO Christophe Forel, who "decided to marque a determination to a caller industry".

Fragos astir precocious spent 22 years arsenic main winemaker astatine Chapel Hill. According to the statement, helium grew up connected a section vineyard successful McLaren Vale and has worked 37 vintages successful the region.

The caller CEO joins Haselgrove aft wider changes astatine Endeavour Group's Pinnacle Drinks business, which owns the Chapel Hill brand.

In May, Endeavour said it would clasp the Chapel Hill, Riddoch Coonawarra and Krondorf Barossa brands but merchantability their vineyards and carnal assets arsenic portion of an "asset-light, customer-led" restructure.

At the time, the institution said Chapel Hill's operations would adjacent astatine the extremity of June and accumulation of the marque would beryllium consolidated astatine Dorrien Estate successful the Barossa.

"I americium incredibly arrogant to person been entrusted by Haselgrove to pb this fantastic winery," Fragos said. "It is simply a privilege to person the accidental to assistance signifier each aspects of the business."

Totino said Fragos became disposable astatine the aforesaid clip Forel decided to leave.

"When [previous CEO] Christophe Forel decided to marque a determination to a caller industry, astatine the aforesaid clip arsenic Michael becoming available, you could accidental the timing was astir blessed," Totino said. "We didn't hesitate to bring Michael in."

Established successful 1981, Haselgrove has been owned since 2008 by South Australian businesspeople Don Totino, Steve Maglieri, Don Luca and Tony Carrocci, Fragos told Just Drinks.

In the statement, Haselgrove said Fragos has longstanding ties with the ownership group, having worked with Maglieri, Luca and Carrocci astatine Tatachilla winery successful the 1990s and advised Totino arsenic helium established an Adelaide Hills vineyard.

Haselgrove sells successful Australia and selected export markets including China, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, England, Germany, Denmark and Canada.

The concern sells done some on- and off-trade channels, with a absorption connected the on-trade.

It does not disclose yearly gross oregon turnover.

The institution owns 1 vineyard adjacent to the winery and besides buys grapes from section growers. It has 15 employees.

Asked astir maturation plans, Fragos said helium would initially absorption connected knowing the concern and its staff.

He past said helium plans to "work unneurotic to formulate a strategy to assistance Haselgrove thrive successful the existent marketplace conditions".