Interview with John Angove [transcript] Interviewer: Rob Linn

John Angove, a fourth generation member of the well-known, South Australian winemaking family, was born in 1947 at Renmark. After finishing his secondary education at St. Peter's College and science and commerce at Adelaide University, John spent eighteen months overseas, working at the Australian Wine Centre in London, travelling through France, Italy, and Germany for two vintages before coming home through the United States. Between 1925 and 1970 Angoves had their own company in England. Angove's winery started at Tea Tree Gully but his grandfather moved the major operations to Renmark in 1910. This interview is a goldmine for readers seeking a personal account of the development of Angove's winery. For example, John Angove charted the company's change from fortified to table wines; the various types of grapes planted in different vineyards; and the mechanisation of harvesting. There is a detailed examination of the development, type and popularity of St. Agnes Brandy from its introduction in 1925. John Angove detailed his father's achievements. He examined the impact of government policies and practices, for example, fixed pricing, the demise of co-operatives, brandy excise, wine equalisation tax and the forced acquisition of the Tea Tree Gully vineyards. John Angove considers that the future challenge for the Australian wine industry is to maintain its quality and the world wide recognition of quality, while the challenge for Angoves is to be one of the best recognised names in Australian winemaking. In a far sighted conclusion in 2003, John Angove stressed the importance of the Murray River

Copies may be made for research and study. Publication only with written permission from the State Library.

To request approval, complete the Quote for Copy/Permission form.