who is the winehound?
CEO Karen Goldspink has tertiary qualifications in wine marketing, management and corporate directorship as well as training and workplace assessment but most importantly she has 30 years experience in the above disciplines along with many years experience in wine region tourism.
“I completed wine marketing at Adelaide University (Roseworthy College) graduating dux of course and then to build on my marketing and management skills went on to undertake an MBA at UNE.
I also have a Corporate Directors Diploma and a Certificate Level 1V in workplace assessment and training.
I undertake ongoing marketing, tourism and wine industry research, including media monitoring, to enure that I am fully informed and up to date. I also teach marketing and management subjects, on a casual basis, at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
I regularly attend marketing and training seminars and conferences, as well as industry specific courses, such as the 3 day advanced wine assessment course at AWRI in Adelaide and Master of Wine Summer schools.”
After graduating from Adelaide University Karen worked for Thomas Hardy & Sons and then BRL Hardy in marketing and business development.
Her passion for the smaller producers arose through her strong belief in the positive economic input that small wineries have to the tourism economy as well as their contribution of artisanal product.
"I feel very strongly about not losing real and individual flavour in our food and wine, hence my interest in the international Slow food Movement www.slowfood.com that supports the continuation of production, and celebration of the service, of regional and traditional produce. I do not think we make enough of the terroir of our individual regions, which would definitely help us to better position the product of small producers in the market place.” (Karen’s passion for this aspect is reflected in her initiating, and becoming convenor of, a Slow Food Convivium in her area).
Karen decided to follow her passion in 1998 as she started to see the warning signs of market erosion with the agglomeration of wholesale and retail distribution channels.
With the knowledge that smaller organisations do not have access to the level of resources of larger businesses Karen set about developing a range of strategies to help small wineries.
Apart from Winehound Marketing and Management Karen has set up www.smallwineries.com.au which features the product of small wineries, runs a nationally accredited Wine Education Course and conducts work place assessment of industry trainees Link to training page for more information .
Karen also runs “Days of Delight” Winery tours specialising in tailored personalised tours to small wineries and other tourism outlets both in her home region, the Canberra District, and interstate.
