STRATHBOGIE Shire is celebrating its newest Australia Day Award recipient with winemaker and industry leader Alister Purbrick being recognised with an Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division.
Mr Purbrick, of Nagambie, was given the award for significant service to the wine industry after a life-long career in which he served in over twelve roles with numerous wine industry peak bodies either as founder, chairman, director, president, or member.
Mr Purbrick, who also served on the Strathbogie Shire Council from 2012 to 2016, said he was ‘humbled’ by the announcement.
“I'm also surprised to be given this honour which has been awarded to so many other very worthy people over so many years,” Mr Purbrick told The Euroa Gazette.
“I have always wanted to give back to my local community, be it the water ski club, footy club, our regional wine association or shire.”
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He said his career in winemaking was ‘pre-ordained’ given his family’s long history in viticulture.
“I was thinking of politics as a career when I was sixteen or seventeen but, in the end, the family genes prevailed.”
Mr Purbrick said his involvement with numerous wine bodies was necessary at the start of his career.
“I joined many wine industry bodies initially as a young man, so that I could learn more about our industry,” he said.
“I felt that the more I knew about the industry, the better my strategic decisions would be for our family-owned companies.”
Mr Purbrick’s parents moved to Tahbilk from Deniliquin in 1954 when he was one year old.
He attended Nagambie Primary School and then studied as a boarder at Melbourne Church of England Boys Grammar School.
He then graduated with a Diploma of Oenology from South Australia’s esteemed Roseworthy Agricultural College.
His early-day mentors included giants of the industry such as James Halliday, Brian Croser, and the late Len Evans.
“For most part they didn't realise, but I respected them, watched them, and learnt from the decisions they made – both good and bad.”
Mr Purbrick was first appointed chief winemaker at Tahbilk wineries when he was 24 years old and held that position for 22 years.
He has been Director at the company since 1980 and was its CEO until 2022.
Mr Purbrick was inaugural chairman for both the Wine Australia Bulk Wine Task Force (2000-2005) and Australia's First Families of Wine (2006-2010) and has had governance appointments at four other wine companies and a wine bottling and packaging business.
In 2011, the Melbourne Wine and Food Festival elevated him to 'Legend' status, but, until this week, his two most cherished awards were the Wine Communicators of Australia “Legend of the Vine” status in 2023 and the Len Evans Award for Australian Wine Industry Leadership in 2012.
Mr Purbrick’s philosophy for life seems to be a driving factor in his success.
“Do unto others what you would like done to you.
“Treat everybody with respect, be honest, be ethical, be accountable for your own actions, listen carefully and make sure that every decision made aligns with your family's values.”
Mr Purbrick said hard industry decisions needed to be made with fairness and reason, more so when people's futures or livelihoods were at stake.
“Ensure individual dignity is respected.
“Try to support as many good causes as possible and be generous when you can.”
His guiding philosophy for wine is simpler.
“Life is short - so don't waste your time drinking mediocre wine,” he said.
“Drink great and, where possible, old wines from wonderful vintages with friends and family.”
