The Guardian of the Vines: "Nature has a profound impact on our passions" with Nigel Blieschke

Humans of Agriculture

Did you know Australia has some of the oldest vines in the world?

Nigel Blieschke is a 2023 Syngenta Growth Award winner in the Sustainability, Advisor category.

In this episode, Nigel shares his journey from childhood in the Flinders Ranges to becoming a leader in viticulture, addressing challenges in the industry, and providing insights into the future of sustainable agriculture. Nigel's experiences, from early vineyard work to managing world-class wineries, offer a valuable perspective on maintaining quality while adapting to industry trends and challenges, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in agriculture and viticulture.

Other topics discussed:

• Nigel's fascination for native animals and vegetation, and ultimately led him to study Natural Resource Management at The University of Adelaide.
• Studying in close proximity to the Barossa Valley, Nigel gravitated towards the wine industry and ended up doing a vintage for some work upon graduating. 30 years later, Nigel is now the Chief Viticulturist at Torbreck Vintners.
• Vines and wine are a long-term game, and Nigel chats us through their approach to sustainably farming perennial plants, sticking true to business strengths in changing global demands and building a team that truly cares for the vines.
  In this episode we talk about,

Viticulture, Wine, Vines, Grapes, Australian Wine, Sustainability, Barossa Valley, Global Trends, Business Management, Team Management.

Podcast partnership appreciation: Oli recently caught up with Nigel Blieschke after he was a Sustainability Advisor Award recipient at the 2023 Syngenta Growth Awards in Sydney. This is the second podcast episode in a partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards.

Episode Sponsor - Rabobank Australia
This week's sponsor is our friends over at Rabobank Australia. They're the World's leading Food and Agribusiness bank and I've been fortunate to get to know the team over the years, and even stand next to a good mate - Tim, on his wedding day.
They've got the latest information and insights relating to Farmland values, where they are and where they could be heading. To get the latest, search RaboResearch Australia on your favourite podcast app to listen.