About
Early Years and Activities
When becoming a member of the Association of Australian Boutique Winemakers Inc. you are supporting the only membership umbrella covering the entire small winemakers' community. The AABW was formed in 1996 to give a voice to the minority group in the wine industry. The AABW's purpose is purely one of marketing. By 1995 the word boutique was not widely used in the wine industry - in fact Dr Max Lake was the rare Australian winemaker who at that time documented the word Boutique to describe his wine.
The AABW commenced the Boutique trend and has given the entire wine industry a brand worth incalculable dollars.
The AABW founded and still manages the Boutique Wine Awards. Commencing their positions in 1996 and still representing the AABW, Huon Hooke is the Awards Chairman and Judith Kennedy the Chief Executive.
Due to the understood benefits of competition, comparison and peer review, the boutique winemakers of New Zealand were invited into the Boutique Wine Awards for the first time in 2009.
In 2003, with the infrastructure established for wine competitions, the AABW Committee members decided to commence and manage the Tri Nations Wine Challenge, which further cemented the Association as a leader on the wine industry's calendar. In 2011 the prestigious Challenge expanded into the Five Nations Wine Challenge (FNWC) including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and Argentina.
In 2003 the Boutique Packaging Awards was launched and runs each alternate year. It is anticipated that this competition will be replaced by the Five Nations Wine Design Challenge in 2012.
The AABW and The Future
The reasoning behind the establishment of the FNWC by an Association representing the 'small' end of the industry is to widen its footprint globally and to prepare the way for the expansion of the Boutique Winemakers' Association in the future.
By plowing the field with the large, known brands under the umbrella of the AABW it is anticipated that by 2015 a worldwide membership invitation will be extended to include Old and New World winemakers into the AABW. With the assistance of the accelerating social media arms; facebook, Twitter and Linked In, the Boutique Winemakers of Australia will have an exposure previously difficult if not impossible. Welcoming French winemakers into our Association in the future; why not? Expanding our profile globally to increase sales; for sure!
Membership Rights and Definition
Australian Winemakers receive Full Membership rights. Winemakers from other countries receive Associate Membership. Individuals receive Gold Memberships.
Definition
A Boutique wine company is one which crushes and bottles 250 tonne or less annually and is owned independently, i.e., not owned by a larger wine company.