Sales & Marketing Manager

Deadline for applications:

Saturday, 16th May 2026

Deadline for applications: Saturday, 16th May 2026

Pocket Gully is a new Australian wine brand by Georges Thienpont, fourth generation Bordeaux winemaker and part of Domaines Jacques Thienpont. Preparing to launch the brand and the first release wines in 2027, Pocket Gully’s rising profile is gaining attention as an exciting new brand to watch and has already established strong connections within the Australian wine industry.

Located in the Adelaide Hills, Pocket Gully produces wines that capture the distinctive characteristics of each individual varietal, vineyard and vintage. This singular focus extends to small-batch winemaking and is embodied in the Piccadilly Chardonnay and Clarendon Cabernet Sauvignon, imparting elegance, intensity and exceptional quality.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to establish a premium wine brand from its inception. As Sales & Marketing Manager you will build the commercial foundation of the brand from the ground up in a hands-on, autonomous role, designing and implementing the initial sales and distribution model, establishing brand presence within the Australian fine wine landscape, building a direct-to-consumer model over time with a long-term view toward allocation-based sales, and acting as a key commercial partner to the proprietor and board.

This is a pivotal leadership role which requires you to shape strategy, build brand equity, and drive sustainable volume and revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute the go-to-market strategy for first and subsequent releases, including pricing input and release planning
  • Evaluate, appoint and manage distribution partners
  • Build presence across prestige on-premise accounts and leading fine-wine retailers
  • Define and protect the brand’s market positioning and narrative
  • Oversee development of brand assets (website, digital channels, sales materials) through external partners and agencies
  • Design and implement a direct-to-consumer sales strategy – over time building a high-quality customer database and long-term collector relationships
  • Partner closely with the Winery & Estate Manager to align product, story and market strategy; collaborate with ownership on commercial priorities
  • Maintain oversight of business performance, including reviewing financials, managing the annual budget, liaising with external accountants, and ensuring tax and compliance requirements are met

Key Requirements

  • Proven national sales leadership in premium wine/spirits, with strong commercial judgement
  • Established relationships across the Australian wine trade, with the ability to build distribution and drive demand
  • Strong luxury brand and category understanding, strategic thinking, and the ability to execute with detail
  • Proven distributor management capability
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to lead and influence
  • Ability to represent the brand selectively with trade and private clients (primarily in Australia) and travel interstate as required

To discuss this role or receive a copy of the position description, contact Stephanie Wood at swood@winenet.com.au or 0408 939 780.

More Information

A fourth-generation winemaker, Georges Thienpont has been involved in the family wine business since a young age and works alongside the Managing Director of Domaine Jacques Thienpont. After moving to Adelaide to study Wine Business, Viticulture and Oenology, Georges saw an opportunity to establish a new brand in Australia.

Pocket Gully is a study in the intricate details of fine-winemaking. Each site is not only breathtaking but carries its own extraordinary legacy within the winemaking world. The wines are hand crafted with a careful approach in the vineyard which extends to every aspect of the winemaking, before the final blend is aged in the finest French oak.

Since purchasing the Piccadilly Valley estate, Pocket Gully’s purpose-built winery was completed in 2025, coinciding with the appointment of winemaker Jacinta Jenkins. The select portfolio focuses on wines that reflect a sense of place, capturing the distinctive characteristics of each individual varietal, vineyard and vintage.

The Thienpont family have been involved in the wine industry since 1842, when they started a wine merchant business based in Etikhove in the Flemish Ardennes. Thienpont Wine has become one of the top wine merchants in Belgium. The family has been producing wine in Bordeaux for over 100 years, which began with the purchase of Château Troplong Mondot in Saint Emilion in 1921 (sold in the 1930’s), followed by Vieux Château Certan in Pomerol in 1924.

The evolution of the family wine business and its legacy now involves multiple generations and a range of ventures. In 2021, Jacques Thienpont formed Domaine Jacques Thienpont which includes his three châteaux on Bordeaux’s right bank – Le Pin in Pomerol, L’If in Saint Emilion and L’Hêtre in Côtes de Castillon.

Read more about the Thienpont family and their wine legacy here:

Thienpont Wine

Memories Elide: Vieux Château Certan 1923-2020