“Colin’s contribution to the wine industry and society is enormous,” Ross said in paying tribute to his close friend at the funeral service last Friday.
“In short, a tenacious local legend, who engendered more stories than we can possibly share today.
“Everyone in the Australian Wine industry loved Colin Campbell for his passion, enthusiasm and most of all his determination.
“This has been reflected in his enormous achievements for our industry locally, nationally and internationally.”
Ross said the Campbell family have been his family’s friends and industry associates for three generations and count Colin and Prue as their closest mates.
“I have always had enormous admiration for Colin and their great family business and hence I was deeply honoured to be invited to speak today,” Ross said.
“It hasn’t been about Colin or Campbells, but for the benefit of the whole of our industry.
“He served on virtually all of our industry bodies, from locally, Rutherglen Winemakers, to nationally, the Wine Federation, where he was acknowledged through a Life Membership for his outstanding leadership and contribution. In the Victorian Wine Industry, he received the Distinguished Service Award, and is ‘Legend of the Vine’.
“Angie Bradbury Wine Victoria Chairman said: ‘Colin was a gentle giant of our industry’.”
Colin’s community support in regional tourism from the first Winery Walkabout almost 50 years ago, is another huge chapter, Ross said. “Colin’s involvement and commitment were extraordinary and have put Rutherglen firmly on the national map.
“These enormous community and industry contributions were most appropriately acknowledged, with an Order of Australia Medal, on Australia Day 2018.
“Colin’s relationships with Government, in Canberra, are legendary. His personal relationship with John Dawkins in 1992, the then Treasurer, singly changed crippling taxation on fortified wine.
“His networking with government, through his capacity to virtually walk into key government offices and seek the attention and gain the influence of politicians or their chief of staff was jaw dropping; leaving even the most experienced lobbyist stunned. It was his down-to-earth style and open honesty that won their hearts and minds.
“Over the years, he was tireless in his efforts on behalf of the wine industry to reach a solution with the government, for fair taxation.
“Without Colin’s leadership and winemaking passion, Rutherglen fortified wines could easily have been lost.”
Ross mentioned that Colin championed a market-leading Classification for Muscat and Topaque, that revitalized and repositioned Rutherglen Fortified wines globally. “Then he went on to take the lead by winning, for the first wine in Australian history, a perfect score 100/100, with his Merchant Prince Muscat, in the highly respected New York based Wine Spectator magazine.
“His innovation and winemaking skills extended beyond great fortified wines, into redefining locally produced quality white wines, as well as intensely complex Durif.
“Chris Pfeiffer another local wine champion who has worked hand in hand with Colin in this community, sent a note from Canada: ‘His work with our iconic Muscat will be a lasting legacy for our Rutherglen Region, as well as the Australian Wine Industry’.
“We have lost a wonderful friend, and leader, but his legacy will endure forever.”
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