Asked about the state of the Australian wine industry – in particular the Barossa Valley – Ben Glaetzer sees no reason to sugarcoat it.
“It’s terrible,” he says.
Ben is concerned about the impact the brutal financial and social fallout is having on the mindset of fellow winemakers and grapegrowers in the wine region he is synonymous with.
One of the world’s best-known winemakers who has won everything worth winning in wine, Ben is still positive about the future of the industry.
His strategy is staying loyal to the people who have been loyal to Glaetzer Wines over many years now, simplifying his business interests and flying all over the world – as he has always done – to sell wine.
The one thing Ben is putting first is his mental health.
He has always been an early riser – up before dawn each day.
“In the industry we are in,” he says, “there are always late nights and whatever else, but you can’t beat early mornings for productivity – you get so much done.”
At 5.30am every Wednesday and Friday, Ben Facetimes his breathing coach and friend in Melbourne, “Gleno”, for some breathwork to calm his mind among other things.
Ben says the twice-weekly sessions work wonders for him for the rest of the day and beyond.
Apart from feeling “fantastic” straight away, he feels better about himself. “It just makes you feel so much better, it’s unbelievable,” says Ben.
More clarity of thought for business and life decisions has been a major benefit.
“I’ve gone through quite a few large changes in my life in the last two years, including matrimonial issues, and with the industry struggles and whatever else, it’s been pretty tough,” Ben says.
“The breathwork helps. I would rather people do the breathing than go out and buy pharmaceuticals and other alternatives because you can always do that.
“It’s been noticed by the people I’m surrounded by. I’m still like everyone else, though, I still have my late nights, but it’s like a hidden power. It’s free for anyone to do if they can just get started and get into it.
“I sound like an holistic clown, there are no crystals or anything like that, it’s just purely using the technique, using your breath and working through it.
“I hope people who read this are not be too judgemental. I just want to help anyone who needs help. I feel like I am someone who can speak from experience in high pressure situations.”
Gleno took this writer through some breathing exercises for about 15 minutes on Facetime. I felt better straight away; the instant calmness did it for me. I felt more positive.
“Our breath is essentially our remote control,” he says.
“We can calm ourselves and energise ourselves based on just breathing. It’s a matter of just getting started. It’s so simple.”
Ben swears by a cold shower each morning. “This will scare the shit out of a lot of people, but it works,” he says.
“It’s astounding, what happens. Apparently a cold shower has 24 hours’ worth of life in it, just in terms of dopamine lift. It’s confronting, but you walk away feeling better. The cold water lifts you.
“Like the breathing exercises, it doesn’t change your problems, but it gives you better clarity – it gives you an incredible lift in focus in the morning.”
Ben is not the type to push ideas – including wellness tips – down other people’s throats, but if he sees a mate doing it tough, he won’t hesitate to suggest giving it a try.
“I have a lot of mates and colleagues in various areas around Australia, and a few of them are pretty skeptical, I suppose. But when you run it through with them, they’re like, ‘It made me feel different and calmer’. I mean, it’s free, you can just do it whenever you need to do it.”
He recommends connecting with someone like Gleno. “It’s nice to have someone there to do it with you,” he says. “Gleno can help you through. By yourself it gets very boring.”
Some of Ben’s travels have been memorable for the wrong reasons. He was in New York City on 9/11. He saw things no one should ever see. He has spoken about it to psychologists over the years. “It’s like a movie in your head,” Ben says. “I was stuck on the Queensboro Bridge with a sales guy.
“We were going to Long Island. I saw both buildings come down. I was walking through ash up to my knees. I had body parts strewn all over me.
“Then there was the time I slept with an AK47 under my bed in Armenia. Yes, my life at times has been somewhat difficult. And now – despite the tribulations we are all going through in the wine industry – I have found calmness in the breathing thing.”
Ben and Gleno have become mates. “Gleno has helped me so much,” Ben says.
“But that pales into insignificance compared to being a genuine person in my life.
“Having a genuine relationship is far more important than a quasi- commercial relationship, put it that way.”
The rock star winemaker has travelled the world his whole life.
He has tasted the best wines and food; lived in the big houses and driven the luxury cars. Ben is still travelling, but not forgetting to enjoy the simple things in life. And the breathing exercises help him do that.
Ben says he has found tremendous healing and energy through practising breathwork.
“For centuries, cultures around the world have used a variety of contemplative and meditative practices to support wellbeing, clarity, vitality and recovery,” he says.
“Breathwork (alongside cold showers and other outside-the-box approaches) has helped me to navigate challenging periods in my life, particularly over the past few years, which has been marked by highs and lows.
“When life feels overwhelming, these meditative practices have helped to quiet mental noise, especially in vulnerable moments when reactive coping mechanisms can emerge.
“I’ve always been a deep thinker.
“I’ve happened to find something that works for me.
“I want to help others.”
Ben has never been happier.
“I’m certainly happier now than when I was the so-called guru of everything.
“My advice to anyone starting out in the wine industry is to not worry about the coin so much – and to focus on yourself and your wellbeing.”
• This article was first published in WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine. Subscribe here.
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