Careless whispers from Oz?

(From Off Licence News)

What's the fastest way to get your product de-listed by Tesco? Short of doubling your price or telling the UK's biggest wine retailer that you never want to see your brand on promotion, accusing Dan Jago, the company's wine category director, of self-abuse is probably as quick a way as any. So when Bruce Tyrrell, of Hunter Valley's Tyrrell Wines, was quoted in Australia's Sun Herald saying that Mr Jago was a "wanker" and that "after 30 years in this business I have learned to listen to consumers rather than guys like this", I assumed he had momentarily mislaid his marbles.

Tyrrell has subsequently claimed that he was misquoted. Unless the journalist, Maxine Frith, taped their conversation, or has excellent shorthand, we shall probably never know the truth. But pushing several portions of humble pie into his mouth at once, Tyrrell hurriedly attempted to repair the damage with Cheshunt central. "I must applaud Tesco for beginning to make a broader range of Australian styles available," he told one trade journal. "That is where the future of Australia lies." Following suit Not everyone has been as outspoken as Tyrrell - assuming he did use the " W" word in his original interview - but other producers have taken a similar tack. "I don' want to be dictated to about flavour by a British supermarket," commented Rick Burge, of Burge Family Winemakers. All over the world, various wine forums have been buzzing with discussions of Jago's comments. Just take a look at wine-pages.com and type in the word "Jago" if you don' believe me.

One strange thing about this whole affair is that neither Tyrrell, Rick Burge nor Maxine Frith was ...