919 Wines was awarded a Brand SA Telstra Small Business Award on Wednesday night at the Brand SA Regional Awards presentation night. The award was for business excellence for a small company employing fewer than 6 employees, and was judged across business sustainability and growth, innovation, diversification and business risk management. It was particularly noted that the ability to find and service a specialised segment of the market has allowed the business to thrive in what continues to be a very tough wine market. 

“We are especially thrilled to win an award for the business strategy and execution, as this complements the award we received last year for our wine”, said Jenny Semmler,  co-owner of the company. 

“It is more difficult to be recognised for excellent business strategy than it is to make excellent products, as many of the internal workings of the business are invisible to customers and clients. We believe that the synergy between excellent business and excellent products allows us to have a thriving and robust brand.

“We are also pleased that we were a finalist in the PIRSA Wine Award at the same ceremony, and congratulate the winner Banrock Station and finalist Whistling Kite Wines for their performance in this category.”

Eric and Jenny Semmler started the business in 2005, and will be celebrating 919 Wines’  10th birthday on 21st November at their cellar door in Glossop. The celebrations include a barbecue and product samples, and a special retrospective tasting of their wines including the multiply-awarded 2006 Vintage fortified, the 2010 Durif and the Pale Dry Apera. 

This is the second regional award that they have won. In 2014, 919 Wines was awarded the Brand SA PIRSA Wine Award. Recipients of three awards are entered into the Hall of Fame. The awards programme is supported by the SA Minister for Regional Development and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA).