Saturday, 11 October 2025 13:25

Philip Gregan retires after 43 years of shaping the New Zealand wine industry

Written by Staff Reporters

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Philip Gregan at the New Zealand Wine 2025 Celebration Dinner

When Philip Gregan stepped into the New Zealand wine industry in 1983, it was awash with Müller Thurgau but rich with potential.

"There were a whole lot of challenges, but you could see there were fantastic people who fundamentally believed that New Zealand wine could be something really significant to New Zealand," he said in a Winegrower Magazine profile in 2023, marking 40 years since he became Research Officer at the Wine Institute of New Zealand.

Now, after 43 years in the industry, and 34 as New Zealand Winegrowers Chief Executive, Philip has announced his retirement. "There have been many highlights over the years, but without doubt the biggest highlight has been the privilege of working with and for our brilliant growers and winemakers," he says. "Their passionate commitment to everything that New Zealand wine stands for continues to inspire me."

Philip grew up in the front-footed wine region of West Auckland and became Chief Executive of the Wine Institute in 1991, when 99% of New Zealand wine was produced for a domestic market. "Today, we are a global wine success story, with over 90% of wine heading to overseas markets and exports worth over $2 billion per year," he says. "Our wines now help defiine the reputation of New Zealand as a country around the world."

NZW board Chair Fabian Yukich shared the organisation's "deep gratitude" for Philip's signficant contribution, including his "integral" role in New Zealand wine's international trade negotiations, resulting in the formation of the World Wine Trade Group. "This remarkable tenure reflects a working lifetime of unwavering commitment and immense contribution," Fabian says. "His hard work, passion for statistics and strategic intellect proved invaluable as the industry prepared for its future."

In his profile story Philip noted that while history is key, the future is more important. "We always have to have our eye on what the next 10, 20, 30 years bring. And I fundamentally believe that's a really exciting future for New Zealand wine. You have to believe in your heart and your mind that we can do something special. And I believe."