SW viticulturalist ready for challenge
A Margaret River viticulturist has been selected as one of 15 Australians to take part in a six-month wine industry leadership program.
Xanadu Wines employee Suzie Muntz will fly to Canberra for the Australian Grape and Wine Authority's future leaders program. Ms Muntz said she and the other candidates would start the program with abseiling, caving and camping.
"(It is) to try to get all us wine industry professionals out of our comfort zones, break down barriers," she said.
From there, the candidates would go to the Yarra Valley and then to Adelaide for leadership workshops and professional development, Ms Muntz said.
"(We will be) learning how to open your mind and be creative," she said.
Ms Muntz has worked in Margaret River's wine industry for 12 years and studied agriculture at the University of Western Australia.
She said the "rigorous and difficult" application process was designed to challenge contestants' creativity. Ms Muntz said her application included a vineyard photo collage as well as an analysis of smoke taint in grapes as a major issue affecting the wine industry.
She said she wanted to be involved with industry bodies when she finished the program and "be a voice for the vineyard people".
Australian Grape and Wine Authority future leaders program manager Anne Duncan said the program would empower participants to be more active in the sector.
"It helps participants change the way they think about challenges and arms them with the right tools to tackle them," she said.
Ms Muntz will fly to Melb- ourne today before the trip to Canberra.
