Purpose – The purpose of this article was to explore why small wine producers in one of Australia’s premium wine regions engage in horizontal networking within both their sub-regions and at a state-wide level. The benefits of these formal network relationships are investigated from a collaborative marketing perspective. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 33 wine producers. Industry informant interviews and secondary data collection enabled triangulation of the research findings. Findings – Overall the study found that producers join horizontal networks for commercial, social and strategic reasons. These motivations evolve over time as the owner/managers gain experience and presence in the region. Horizontal networks assist regions to build goodwill and industry norms, and share knowledge. Such social capital encourages collaboration among wineries and enables networks to effectively pursue shared objectives. Horizontal networks at a sub-regional level also play a key role in establishing and promoting wine tourism. Practical implications – The paper shows how horizontal wine networks develop over time and the key motivations for membership. Those looking to establish networks can benefit from knowledge of the key drivers which influence and enhance participation. Originality/value – To date most network studies in the sector have focused on informal relationships between wineries, or networks and clusters comprising firms vertically integrated in the supply chain. The paper contributes to understanding why small wine producers join horizontal networks and examines how collaborative marketing can assist boutique and developing wine regions to increase the competitiveness and market penetration of their products.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Australia, interviews, marketing, wines, qualitative
Research Division:	Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
Research Group:	Marketing
Research Field:	Marketing management (incl. strategy and customer relations)
Objective Division:	Economic Framework
Objective Group:	Management and productivity
Objective Field:	Marketing
UTAS Author:	Lewis, GK (Dr Gemma Lewis)
UTAS Author:	Grimmer, M (Professor Martin Grimmer)
ID Code:	101978
Year Published:	2015
Deposited By:	TSBE
Deposited On:	2015-07-22
Last Modified:	2016-03-16
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