The Team

It’s a family affair at Broken Gate with Josef perfecting wines paired his wife Ande, and daughter Georgie both in sales.

Josef was born in Paris and brought up in Melbourne. He lived and worked in the Clare Valley from 1994 to 1998 at Leasingham Wines. One of his career highlight was being a winery team member, winning the 1994 Jimmy Watson Trophy. Josef was the head chef and team leader in ‘Tasting Australia’ province competition representing the Clare Valley. Designer and creator of a prism shaped wine cask, selling at Sainsbury wines stores in the UK.

Josef has completed his studies in Wine Technology and Viticulture at the University of Melbourne (Dookie Campus). He is a frequent flyer visiting China, the UK, Vietnam, Denmark and Germany, for business in the past year.

Josef’s favourite wine is Pinot Noir followed by the ‘Little Sweetie’ – “it’s a great wine paired with spicy Indian, Thai or Asian cuisine.”

Ande is our vivacious and friendly National Sales Manager. Austrian born, Adelaide raised, Ande has worked as a  Primary School teacher, Flight Attendant, National Manager for a Dining Card, Owner of Clarevale Winery Restaurant and has completed varied work in Film and Television. In her spare time, Ande’s interests include Reiki, Yoga, dog loving, Australian footy (Adelaide Crows supporting) and bush walking.

What does she hope to achieve at Broken Gate within the next year? “To lift our sales profile, making our wonderful range of wines available through boutique retail outlets, restaurants and cafes while sharing our passion for quality Australian wine in Australia and to overseas markets at a great price.”

Ande’s favourite wine is NV Cuvee Brut from South Australia.

Georgie Orbach joined the Broken Gate Team in 2007 and yes the surname belies another daughter taking a serious interest in the wine industry and joining the family business. The move to the position of Victorian Sales Manager meant relocating from the Clare Valley where she previously worked in Viticulture.

Georgie’s hard work, attention to detail and amazing work ethic has seen Broken Gate advance not only in behind the scenes, but continues to give a personal touch to all our Melbourne retail outlets she services. In 2010, Georgie rook on the role of Operations and Logistics Manager overseeing all stock and inventory movements in the domestic and international markets. As well as looking after things while Josef & Ande are out fo town!

Georgie’s favourite wine is the Broken Gate Shiraz.

.

Born in Melbourne, Sharday has spent much of her childhood in Broken Gate’s favourite wine region, Clare Valley S.A. In 2012 she completed a degree in Fashion & Textiles at RMIT University, Melbourne. This year Sharday moved to Vancouver, Canada with her partner Avner. She is looking forward to sampling the wines of the Okanagan region.

Her role at Broken Gate is Brand Ambassador and Social Media/Online Manager.

Her favourite wine is the Side Gate Sauvignon Blanc.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that another Orbach girl has joined the family business!

2012 saw Emme finish a Visual Art & Design degree at Australian Catholic University.

Her role with Broken Gate is Graphic Designer with her work including the design of our ‘House’ range, a quirky play on the stock-standard ‘House’ wine at restaurants & bars. Currently Emme is working with a team of artists and photographers creating new brands for our wines entering the Asian market.

Emme’s favourite wine is the Broken Gate Pinot Grigio.

Joshy is a Papillion cross Chihuahua who has been a long serving member of the Broken Gate team.

He loves sleeping under the desk in the office at Rokeby Street and playing the grumpy ‘security’ guard to all visitors!

More importantly, his bark is worse than his bite!

8-year-old Miki Juro, a Japanese Spitz, is one of the friendliest faces at Broken Gate.

He is best known for his trademark jumping hugs, but more commonly, all the white fur left around the office.

He greets all visitors with a warm ‘WOOF WOOF’ hello!

Sam alias Alfie

In 2010 a talking lorikeet joined the office at Broken Gate (yes it’s a crazy work scene). He was quickly named Alfie by Sharday who rescued him at her University Campus.

To everyone’s amazement he has grown back his lost feathers and yes he talks. His constant mentioning of the word “Sam” soon told he has his own preferred name. “Hello”, “I’m a Good Boy” “See you” “Give us a kiss” are just some of the things Sam says daily and yes he has the most amazing whistles.

We have tried our best to find Sam’s original owners but no luck yet. In the mean time Josef has built him a magnificent cage and he is let out to fly daily around the office and boardroom, joining us for morning tea, he loves his biscuits. Check out Sam’s killer whistle here.