Not Easy Being Green

This season’s “A Day On The Green” winery shows in Australia starring Tom Jones had their ups and downs.

Minutes before Jones went on stage at Sandalford Wines in Western Australia’s Swan Valley to 10,000 fans, Roundhouse Entertainment co-director Michael Newton announced “A Day On The Green” would no longer be held there.

Sandalford Wines chief executive Grant Brinklow said he was surprised and disappointed by Newton’s announcement.

But tensions had grown between the two camps over how many shows Sandalford could host and if they should be exclusive to Roundhouse.

That same week, Jones’ “Green” show at All Saints Estate in regional Victoria attracted a disappointing 3,500 fans. Crowds there in the past four years have been double that size.

However, the series’ move into Northern Tasmania was successful. Jones drew a capacity crowd to Josef Chromy Wines.

Managing director Dean Cocker said they’d sold more of their wines at the show in a day than at the week-long “Taste Of Tasmania” cultural festival.

The firm has signed a deal with Roundhouse to stage up to three shows a year.