Just for the record – Wolf Blass AM is not buying back the eponymous wine brand he started in 1966.
Asked if he is interested in ‘his’ old wine brand, Wolf says, “Do you think I’m forty-five years of age?”
Wolf will turn 90 in September.
“I’ve had a few people phoning me saying, ‘Why don’t you buy the bloody thing back?’
“But in the wine game, you have to start with $2 million to end up with $1 million.”
Treasury Wine Estates announced last week that it was selling its Australian commercial wine brands including Wolf Blass, Lindeman’s and Yellowglen, and US brand Blossom Hill.
Wolf says it doesn’t surprise him.
“I don’t think there are any surprises coming from this company,” he says.
“I think it (selling Wolf Blass) was all in place when Michael Clarke took over.
“They were going to push Penfolds, and anything else which could probably interfere in the competition, would have to go.”
Wolf doesn’t know where the Wolf Blass brand will end up.
“I don’t know, you never know what is happening in this world,” he says.
“Let’s hope it’s going to be run in a smooth way.”
Does Wolf get sentimental about the famous brand?
“No, I’ve been out of this for too long,” he says.
“I’m not sentimental about it. I’ve done it all. I’ve been up the top.
“I was working with Foster’s [when it owned Wolf Blass] in a very successful way in exports.
“I was actively involved and I enjoyed it – up until 2017-18.
“I’m more concerned about where the wine industry is going to finish up.”
Wolf describes the current state of the Australian wine industry as “a bloody mess”.
“I’ve seen it all before, the ups and downs, the takeovers, the amalgamations and everything else.
“But what is happening now is a disaster.
“I have not got much time for the Australian wine industry the way it’s running.
“There is no leadership.
“You can see it’s a disaster, our industry – a 300,000 to 400,000 surplus of grapes.”
On Pernod Ricard recently agreeing to sell Jacob’s Creek to Accolade Wines, Wolf says “they would have given it away”.
Wolf still takes a close interest in the wine industry, but his main focus is his “very successful” business interests outside of the wine industry along with the Wolf Blass Foundation.
He still does pistol shooting every fortnight.
“Despite the fact that I am the worst shot,” he says.
“They look after me – I’m the oldest in the club.
“It gets you away from the normal things in life.
“You’re going to have a different group of people talking.
“You concentrate on something and I’m enjoying it.
“I’ve been the major sponsor for about forty years.”
In May Wolf went to his annual health/detox retreat in Europe for the 35th time.
“It gets the motor going, put it this way,” he says.
“I’m approaching my 90th birthday – that’s a good one. This is all under control.”
Wolf says he still enjoys a Wolf Blass red with dinner occasionally.
“If I can get my hands on it,” he says. “It’s very hard to get it.”
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