Vineyard Mates began June 2008 when a group of us were sitting around the kitchen table and a friend needed some help in the vineyard. Not much has changed – the table is bigger and we have more equipment and more people around it, but we are still about ‘helping out’. We realized that there are many growers out there that need support and help in their vineyard and situations where they need the right equipment to do the complete job. With great experience in this area, we began offering vineyard operational and management services to the Barossa Valley region including grape harvesting, machine pruning, post knocking, rotary hoeing, irrigation, vineyard spraying and all aspects of vineyard management. Brett & Trina are very passionate about working in the vineyard. We strived to build a sustainable and successful business based in the Barossa Valley supporting the growers and wineries to maintain their vineyards.
We are constantly working towards sustainable, both financial and environmental, solutions to improve productivity and efficiencies within our vineyard practises optimising the benefits that each vineyard input can extract.
Do YOU want to be a mate of ours?
Meet the Team
BRETT
Leadership and Chief Executive Officer
Having grown up in the Riverland amongst orchards and vineyards, it was probably inevitable that Brett ended up in the vineyard industry. Brett is focused, dedicated and a hard-working family man. He is receptive to new ideas and encourages innovation; it is his passion and he now deals with the everyday challenges of maintaining vineyards across the Valley, supporting the local growers and working in conjunction with wineries to achieve the best possible quality fruit.
Brett has previously managed 300 acres of vines achieving high-level grade fruit in the Barossa Valley. Brett is passionate about his work and focuses on quality because he realizes that you cannot make great wines with inferior fruit.
Brett was formerly the Secretary to BGWA Grape Barossa Committee, has completed the BGWA Next Crop Leadership Course, gained a Diploma in Agribusiness Management, and is involved in the Wine Grape Council South Australia Grower Focus Group 2018-2019. Brett has completed Kerwin Rae’s ‘Nail It & Scale It’ course which delivers the very latest innovations in business growth strategies and actionable tactics that simply work and provide outstanding results through the implementation of strategies. Brett is a member of K2 Elite Mastermind which is an Exclusive Business Accelerator course that is by Application Only for business owners who are dedicated to the ongoing delivery of the latest and most effective methods, tools, ongoing support, coaching, and training available for small business owners. We work together creating the leadership framework and culture that attracts great talent and loyal clients. K2 Elite is run by successful business owners for business owners looking to create a successful and sustainable growth environment.
We show dedication and commitment to the vineyards that we maintain. Vineyard Mates are regularly updating our equipment and range of vineyard equipment to ensure we can manage your vineyard as efficiently as possible. Our qualified staff and fully equipped workshop ensure that all of our modern plant and tractors are kept in excellent condition. This minimizes downtime and eliminates inconvenience to our customers.
TRINA
Leadership and Chief Financial Officer
Trina grew up on a vineyard property in Bethany. Her family has grown grapes in the Valley for 6 generations. Most weekends/holidays were spent ‘helping out’ on the property picking grapes, tying on, vine training, etc which are the types of jobs that all kids on the land were expected to do growing up on vineyard property. Trina has gained extensive winery knowledge across a 17 year career at Yalumba Wines covering everything from reception, to winemaking and export before beginning her own business, Vineyard Mates. Trina is passionate about viticulture and agriculture and its role in Australia. Trina has faith that there is a promising future for viticulture and agriculture, now and for future generations.
Trina’s has completed the BGWA Next Crop Leadership Course, gained a Diploma in Agribusiness Management, has been a committee member of BGWA Grape Barossa Committee, was Treasurer to Barossa Vine Improvement committee 2017-2019 and is involved in the Wine Grape Council South Australia Grower Focus Group 2018-2019. Trina completed Tamsin Kate’s LEAD ID Women in Business course, and has completed Kerwin Rae’s ‘Nail It & Scale It’ course which delivers the very latest innovations in business growth strategies and actionable tactics that simply work and provide outstanding results through the implementation of strategies. Trina is a member of K2 Elite Mastermind which is an Exclusive Business Accelerator course that is by Application Only for business owners who are dedicated to the ongoing delivery of the latest and most effective methods, tools, ongoing support, coaching, and training available for small business owners. We work together creating the leadership framework and culture that attracts great talent and loyal clients. K2 Elite is run by successful business owners for business owners looking to create a successful and sustainable growth environment.
Vineyard Mates wants to remain competitive, profitable and sustainable whilst continuing to evolve and stay true to our values.
We enjoy the connection that we have with our customers and wineries. The Barossa Valley is a beautiful place to live and doing something that we are both passionate about and enjoy means it doesn’t feel like a job, but a fantastic lifestyle. It’s a brilliant feeling achieving high standards for our growers and being able to adapt to the industry’s ever-changing needs.
Paul has worked for Vineyard Mates for almost 10 years and is one of the first “original” Vineyard Mates, coming on board December 2009.
Paul has taken on any challenge given to him and has seen the business grow to what it is today.
Paul is a born and bred Barossa local who has two children. He loves the Barossa lifestyle and country living.
I’m sure if Vineyard Mates didn’t have Paul so busy in the vineyards, he would be a farmer as he loves the life of working on the land. He is an experienced machinery operator who loves driving his ute barrel racing at the Diesel & Dirt Derby, Keith SA or Deniliquin, NSW and at the Deni Ute Muster in his spare time.
Ben has over 15 years’ experience working the vineyards and joined Vineyard Mates in September 2013.
Ben works in all areas of the vineyards, either as a machinery operator or supervising hand pruning.
Originally from Kambalda, WA, he now lives locally with his fiancée, Sonia.
He enjoys Street FX Motorsport, large agricultural machinery and anything with horsepower – if it’s got wheels, he loves it! He is a fan of West Coast Eagles – but we won’t hold that against him.
Toni Ann joined Vineyard Mates Team in September 2016 as a highly proficient bookkeeper and has become the central hub for nearly all the financial and payroll information.
From here she has mastered the financial aspects of the business, providing essential services to Vineyard Mates by maintaining accurate records and monthly financials.
Toni Ann brings loads of experience and knowledge to the role, having worked in small and large businesses across several states and finally settling in the Barossa with her husband Kevin and 3 boys for the past 19 years.
Tania is a member of our customer loving team, and is our administration whip cracker, keeping us all in line in the office. She is an administration whiz and strives to keep Vineyard Mates customers happy.
Tan has extensive knowledge as an administrative and customer service professional with 30 years’ experience in the export, wine, brewing, HR and transport industries in Australia and the UK.
She has worked in sales, marketing, HR, customer service and general administrative environments and has a proven track record of developing new business, exceeding customer expectations and motivating teams to consistently exceed targets.
She has recently sold her own business in the UK to return permanently to her native Barossa Valley home with her family.
Geoff recently joined the team in January 2019 to assist in the Workshop and Maintenance.
Geoff has brought a wealth of maintenance knowledge to the business which fits perfectly, as we all know the pride Vineyard Mates takes in ensuring all equipment is maintained to perform to the highest standard whilst out in the field.
WHAT SETS US APART
1st Class Equipment
We show dedication and commitment to the vineyards that we maintain.
Vineyard Mates are regularly updating our equipment and range of vineyard equipment to ensure we can manage your vineyard as efficiently as possible.
Our qualified staff and fully equipped workshop ensure that all of our modern plant and tractors are kept in excellent condition. This minimises downtime and eliminates inconvenience to our customers.
1st Class Experience
Brett has previously managed 300 acres of vines achieving high level grade fruit in the Barossa Valley. Brett is passionate about his work and focuses on quality because he realises that you can’t make great wines with low grade fruit.
Trina grew up on a vineyard property in Bethany. Her family has grown grapes in the Valley for generations. She gained extensive winery knowledge, from production to export, in her 17 year career at Yalumba Wines before beginning her own business, Vineyard Mates. Trina is passionate about agriculture and its role in Australia. Trina has faith that there is a promising future for agriculture, now and for the future generations.
Passion for the Barossa
The Barossa Valley is a beautiful place to live and we enjoy the connection that we have with our customers and wineries. We are doing something that we are both passionate about and enjoy, so it doesn’t feel like a job, but a fantastic lifestyle. It’s a brilliant feeling achieving high standards for our growers and being able to adapt to the industry’s ever-changing needs.
What We Offer
our Solutions
Vineyard Mates can provide a full range of vineyard management and operational services for all your vineyard requirements.
From fungicide spraying to mulching, cover cropping to machine harvesting of your grapes – we have the equipment to do the job right, the first time.
With our experienced operators we are confident we can provide you with a full range of services, when you want them!
Give Brett a call today to discuss your vineyard requirements.
