Robert Hill-Smith, fifth generation descendant of Samuel Smith and proprietor of Australia’s oldest wine company, Yalumba, has been appointed as Australia’s First Families of Wine’s (AFFW) new Chairman, taking over from Mitchell Taylor, Managing Director and third generation Winemaker at Taylors Wines. AFFW represents 12 of Australia’s leading and oldest Australian families, who since 2009 have been raising the profile of Australian wine nationally and around the globe. The group is set to launch in the USA later this year, when it will also return to Canada, where it launched earlier in 2011. Robert says the launch will put Australia “back on the catwalk where Australia’s finest wines are taken seriously”. In addition, Robert’s mandate includes aligning AFFW with Wine Australia’s recent investment in the USA and Canada, and putting “Australia’s best wines back into the drinking repertoire of all wine enthusiasts”.

“Our plan is to shift the needle on the radar of demand for the fine wines of Australia, both here and overseas. The time is right for us to show our commitment to that market and be there in person to tell our stories,” Robert added. 13 events over 14 days will be held across North America, celebrating the quality, history and diversity of Australian wine. In recent years, AFFW has also launched in the UK and China. AFFW has also set-up a domestic tasting program here in Australia for both trade and consumers, called UNLOCKED. Since 2012, the tasting initiative has been held in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, showcasing wine from each of the family’s cellars.