Bitterness brews over wine snub

Questions are being asked about the use of Brown Brothers as a corporate partner of Jumpers and Jazz.

By Jeremy Sollars

A furore has broken out over the use of Brown Brothers wines as a corporate partner for the 2017 Jumpers and Jazz Festival in Warwick.
Granite Belt winemakers are fuming at what they see as a snub to their local products but the festival organising committee has said it was approached by Brown Brothers to come on board as a corporate partner.
Other local media have referred to Brown Brothers as a corporate sponsor of Jumpers and Jazz, but the festival program lists them as a “corporate partner’, along with the Warwick Art Gallery, Channel 7 Toowoomba and Weddings and Events Warwick.
The sponsors of Jumpers and Jazz – providing a higher level of financial and other support – are the Queensland Government, the Southern Downs Regional Council and RACQ.
Corporate partners of events differ significantly from sponsors, in that they provide a lesser level of support and often in-kind rather than financial.
But local winemakers are nonetheless expressing their disappointment at not being invited to come on board with Jumpers and Jazz at any level.
Ballandean Estate Wines business manager Robyn Henderson said she became aware of Brown Brothers involvement a month or so ago.
“I didn’t make a big fuss about it – I guess if the support is free for the festival organisers then it’s hard to say no,” she told the Free Times.
“But it’s still very disappointing – I am not aware that there was any opportunity for local wineries and other business to partner with Jumpers and Jazz.
“From our point of view it’s a real opportunity that’s been missed to showcase our region.”
Robyn said Ballandean Estate Wines would again be a stallholder at the Leslie Park Jumpers and Jazz craft markets.
Robert Channon of Robert Channon Wines told the media this week the involvement of Brown Brothers was “absolutely outrageous”.
“It’s a slap in the face to a local industry that the whole Southern Downs should be proud of,” he said.
“I can’t imagine any other wine district that would do this.”
Stanthorpe wine producers were equally incensed that Jacobs Creek wines were served at the Warwick launch of the council’s new tourism guide last month, with Ballandean Estate wines served at the Stanthorpe launch.
Southern Downs Regional Council’s Economic Development and Tourism manager Scott Templeman told the Free Times that the council “tries to give every local producer an equal opportunity to provide their products”.
“The council has used a wide range of local producers for their events, including Suttons, Kominos, Summit, Golden Grove and Ballandean Estates, Grove Juice, CWA, service clubs, local coffee vans, and local pizzas,” he said.
“In addition, a local business, Giorgio’s Mobile Chef, was used for the Shane Webcke dinner at Stanthorpe.
“Local businesses are always the first considered for any council event.”
The Free Times sought comment from the Jumpers and Jazz festival organisers but was unable to contact them by time of printing this week, to determine what form of support Brown Brothers would be providing.
More online this week at freetimes.com.au