Workshop Introduction
Tony Hoare AssocDip(Hort), BAgSci (Vit), BSci (Hons)(Vit)
Please welcome Tony Hoare: a viticulturist, grapegrower, field-grafting specialist and co-founder of Beach Road Wines.
Tony has spent more than 30 years working alongside growers to solve real problems in the field: improving vineyard performance, lifting fruit quality, managing water more intelligently and helping vineyards adapt to changing markets.
His career has taken him from developing premium vineyards in the Hunter Valley, to managing and supporting growers in McLaren Vale, to consulting across Australia and overseas. Along the way, he has led practical work in sustainable vineyard management, regulated deficit irrigation, grower education, vineyard redevelopment and field grafting.
Tony is especially well known for helping growers change varieties without removing productive vineyards, with millions of vines grafted across Australia, New Zealand and India. His approach is hands-on, practical and focused on outcomes that matter to growers: strong strike rates, fast recovery, better vineyard options and improved returns.
He has also contributed to the wider industry through grower workshops, technical writing, research into terroir and soil influence on wine quality, and his role with the Australian Wine Research Institute helping develop advanced viticulture training.
Today, Tony continues to combine commercial vineyard experience with a deep interest in practical technology for growers through VitiSense, while also running Beach Road Wines with his wife Briony.
For an agricultural audience, Tony brings a grounded perspective: he understands the pressure of seasons, water, labour, markets and margins, and he is focused on practical decisions that make farms and vineyards more resilient and profitable.
Please join me in welcoming Tony Hoare.
Key roles
Current
Member, Wine Australia National Extension Advisory Group, Adelaide, SA.
Independent viticultural advisor, Hoare Consulting, McLaren Vale, SA.
Professional field grafter (vines), McLaren Vale, SA.
Co-founder and co-owner of Beach Road Wines, McLaren Vale, SA.
Founder VitiSense® online viticulture web platform.
Co-founder/Director Nozawa Onsen Distillery, Japan.
Previous
National extension viticulturist, AWRI, Urrbrae, South Australia.
Viticulture researcher and expert presenter, Adelaide University, SA.
Viticulturist, vineyard manager, grower liaison, Wirra Wirra Vineyards, McLaren Vale, SA.
Chair McLaren Vale Winegrowers Development Group, McLaren Vale, SA.
Columnist Australian Wine and Viticulture.
Vineyard manager/developer Ablington Vineyard Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW.