Wine Industry Report

The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) has paid tribute to Len Evans, one of the founding fathers of the modern Australian wine industry who died on August 17th, 2006.

WFA Chief Executive Stephen Strachan said the Australian wine industry would be mourning the loss of a man who had had made an immense contribution to the development and profile of Australian wines over a period of more than forty years.

“Len Evans was a true icon of the Australian wine industry,” Mr Strachan said, “he was a pioneer in the development and promotion of modern table wines, setting the industry up to grow from a specialist producer of fortified wines to a leading producer of wines for all occasions.

“Len’s books, investments and enthusiasm helped to make wine accessible to Australians like never before and proved crucial in establishing the industry for export success. We have lost a true champion of the Australian wine industry.”
Len Evans was born in England in 1930 migrating first to New Zealand before arriving in Australia in 1955. After time as a dingo fencer and labourer, he became a writer for early Australian television shows such as the Bobby Limb Show and Mavis Bramston Show.

Whilst working in television he forged a career in hospitality, starting as a glassy and then securing a position as Assistant Beverage Manager at the new Chevron Hilton Hotel in 1960. In 1965 he brought his promotional and hospitality knowledge together to found the Australian Wine Bureau, driving a promotional effort to double the sales of Australian table wines.

In 1968 he founded the now renowned Rothbury Estate at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. A decade later he formed the Evans Wine Company with the late Peter Fox and, in partnership with Brian Croser, bought properties at Piccadilly, Clare and Coonawarra to establish Petaluma. In the years that followed the Evans Wine Company and Rothbury Estate expanded production not only in Australia, but also in Bordeaux, the Napa Valley and New Zealand’s Marlborough region.
A distinguished wine judge, Len Evans first judged in 1963 and served as chairman of judges in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide, ultimately adjudicating at all major Australian wine shows. He was a prolific writer and entertaining speaker, producing the first of dozens of publications, the Cellarmaster Guide, in 1966. His Complete Book of Australian Wine series went on to become best sellers.

He used his profile to assist many charities and was awarded the OBE for service to the community and the Australian wine industry in 1982. In 1995 he was inducted by the Winemakers’ Federation as a patron of the Australian wine industry for his outstanding contribution.

“All in the Australian wine industry will be mourning the passing of Len, who was a passionate advocate of Australian wines and a true character to the end. We send our condolences to all of his family, especially his wife Patricia, daughters Sally and Jodie and son Toby,” Mr Strachan said.