Kreglinger, the Belgian company which owns the Tasmanian wine company, Piper’s Brook Vineyard, has sacked the winery’s managing director, Andrew Pirie. The reasons behind the dismissal have not yet emerged.

Stuart Bryce, president of the Vineyards Association of Tasmania, said the industry was dismayed by the news of the sacking. “It was very distressing news. Andrew was responsible for establishing the industry’s first icon in Tasmania,” Bryce said. “Speaking for the small growers, I don’t think anyone would know who we were if it wasn’t for the publicity through the image that was created at Pipers Brook by Andrew Pirie.”

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