One of Australia’s most highly regarded fine wine marketers, Travis Fuller, has joined Kilikanoon Wines as General Manager.
Fuller has been the fine wine advocate within some of Australia’s largest wine organisations over the past 30 years, including Southcorp, Accolade, Casella and Pernod Ricard Winemakers.
Current General Manager Warwick Duthy and winery founder Kevin Mitchell have both recently made the decision to retain shareholding in Kilikanoon ‘indefinitely’ and to enter into fresh long-term consulting contracts.
“Travis has followed me around the industry a little so it feels almost inevitable that we should come together at Kilikanoon,” said Duthy.
“Travis joined Southcorp just after I left there in 1992 and looked after the Seppelt and Penfolds brands amongst others. He managed the old Petaluma group brands as well as Hardy’s at Accolade, and an eclectic group of international fine wine brands that I worked with when at Allied Domecq when he was recently Global Fine Wine Director at Pernod Ricard.
“Kilikanoon has been a marketing led brand aimed at building consumer trust through consistency of quality and style only possible with great vineyards and outstanding winemaking. Travis will continue that model and take it to another level.”
Duthy will work alongside Travis Fuller until the end of 2020, when he will stand down from his executive responsibilities and continue as a Director. Duthy (above) is also developing the Watervale Hotel as a showcase venue for all Clare Valley produce.
Travis Fuller gets back to his roots
Fuller said that after many years working within large wine companies he was looking forward to getting back closer to the wine and the customers who buy them, “the primary reason we all love this amazing industry”.
“I feel an immense sense of pride to be able to work with Warrick and the team as we look to further cement the outstanding reputation of Kilikanoon in the international marketplace,” Fuller added. “Having stayed true to its fine wine philosophy, uncompromising commitment to quality and sustainability, my job is to further nurture this unique and treasured Clare Valley estate. With the help of the dedicated Kilikanoon team we will realise the brands full potential in the coming years.”
Mitchell founded the business in 1997. Kilikanoon has since been rated Australia’s best winery seven times in the last 11 years by James Halliday in his 2013 companion, the London based IWSC in 2018 and Germany’s Mundus Vini in 2010 and for the last four years culminating in 2020.
The Kilikanoon Oracle Shiraz has been rated ‘Best Shiraz in the World’ three times, most recently the 2014 Oracle by IWSC, and the 2014 Attunga Shiraz received a similar honour from Decanter in 2019.
Peter Warr who joined Kilikanoon in late 2018, has led the Kilikanoon winemaking team through the 2019 and 2020 vintages and has now been formally appointed as the Chief Operational Winemaker effective immediately.
Kirby Graudins who joined Kilikanoon at the same time has become Senior Winemaker.
