Getting to Know You

Some things you may not have known about some of our wine industry people.... Please note, these were correct as provided by the person at the time - as things change, their current positions may have changed from what they told us originally. No responsibility of any kind is taken for any reason or inaccuracy.

Caleb Dennis, Landbasenzwine, formerly Group Technical Officer, Craggy Range Vineyards, Hawke's Bay

Born, Bred, Schooled:

Wellington, Wellington, Wellington/Christchurch (for uni).

First wine industry job – year

2008, Summer vineyard work Craggy Range Hawke's Bay.


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Paul Robinson, Assistant Vineyard Manager, Villa Maria, Hawke’s Bay

Born, Bred, Schooled:

Grew up in Taranaki on the family dairy farm, attended New Plymouth Boys High School. Moved to Hawke’s Bay in 2005 and graduated with Bachelor of Viticulture in 2008.  

First wine industry job – year: 

I worked part time while studying for Maimai Creek Wines.



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Tim Adams - Assistant Vineyard Manager, Mudbrick, Waiheke Island

Born and Bred 

Hamil-tron: City of the future

Schooled 

In most of the universities of New Zealand

First wine industry job

2011 summer vineyard Worker at Mudbrick Vineyards



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Ali Pottinger, Sales and Marketing Manager, Omaka Springs Estates

Born, Bred, Schooled:
I was born in Auckland (Auckland?!) Yeah, I know……… But I did move to Southland when I was a few months old and therefore can rightfully claim to be not only a Mainlander, but a Southlander as well! I lived in Southland for so long that I still roll my R's if I’m not careful. I went to boarding school St Peter’s College in Gore. I still remember that day in February when we all went for a drive and I got left behind in Gore...
 
First wine industry job – year:
Was in 2011 as a Cellar Hand doing the graveyard (night) shift. Think I’ll never get over having ‘morning tea’ at 10.30pm and ‘afternoon tea’ at 3.30am! The highlight of each shift was to play a selection of songs just before we finished for the night. I’ll never forget ‘Africa’ by Toto as long as I live!

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Rosie Menzies, Assistant Winemaker, Seresin Estate, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born in Dannevirke, Bred - Makutuku, Fairlie, Queenstown, Waipukurau, Havelock North.. Bachelor of Science, Massey University; Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology, Lincoln University; WSET Advanced and Diploma Course, London.

First wine industry job – year

Vineyard Worker at Lime Rocks Vineyard, CHB – 2006/2007.


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Cameron Trott, Associate Winemaker, Greenhough Vineyards, Hope Nelson

Born, Bred, Schooled

Christchurch,  Mean streets of Mapua, Nelson.

First wine industry job – year

2010 Vintage Cellar-hand Neudorf Vineyards.


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Nicola Clark, Marketing Manager, Spy Valley Wines, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled:
Gisborne born, Marlborough Girls College, University of Canterbury

First wine industry job - year

2000 washing dishes at Highfield winery restaurant


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Caro Jensen, Founder of Sip NZ Wine

Born, bred and schooled

in Northern Germany, close to Hanover. I went to uni in Southern Germany and in Lisbon, Portugal. 

First wine industry job
I was the first intern at New Zealand Winegrowers. 
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Dan Manuge, Viticulturist, Sea Level Wines, Tasman Region

Born, Bred, Schooled:

Born Christchurch, Grew up in North Canterbury then schooled in Marlborough.

First wine industry job – year:

About 2001 started working for Guy Lissaman in school holidays.



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Matt Elrick, Winemaker, Allan Scott Family Winemakers, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born Bred Schooled in the winterless north – Whangarei – {Ngati-wai so I pronounce it how its meant to be pronounced ‘wongaray’}.  Got addicted to champagne while living abroad – came home to make it!

First wine industry job

Cellier le Brun - 2000.


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Hayden Penny, Manager/Winemaker William Murdoch Wines, Hawke's Bay

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born in Thames and grew up in Paeroa before moving to Hawkes Bay. Finished my schooling at Napier Boys High School. Bachelor of Wine Science and Bachelor of Viticulture at EIT Hawkes Bay graduating in 2006.

First wine industry job

Cellar Hand at Te Awa Winery in 2006.


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Huw Kinch, Winemaker, Escarpment Vineyards, Martinborough

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born/Bred: Cooma, NSW Australia.  Schooled: St Pats Cooma.

First wine industry job
BWS Bottle shop Wagga Wagga – 3 lane drive through! Those Wagga folk know how to drink!


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James Dicey, Grape Vision Ltd & Ceres Wines, Central Otago

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born - Worcester South Africa Bred/Schooled - Wolseley (RSA), Tolaga Bay (a real introduction to NZ - pasty honky gets his comeuppance), Katikati, Dunedin (Otago Uni - BCom/LLB), Lincoln (Grad Dip V & O).

First wine industry job

1992 - Pruning Long Gully Vineyard (now part of Mt Difficulty) for my father after University - minus 2, fog, no workmates. Brutal. Put me off for 12 years before having another crack!


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Rob Knight, Cellar Manager, GisVin, Gisborne

Born, Bred, Schooled

Gisborne born and bred. Schooled at Gisborne Intermediate and Lytton High School.

First wine industry job

Cellar work during vintage 1983 after school. Dipping tanks, cleaning and getting ferment samples… At Corbans Gisborne.


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Erica Crawford, co-owner Loveblock Vineyard, Auckland

Born Bred Schooled

South Africa, University of Cape Town

First Wine Industry Job
Retail - Casual at Rebel Liquor in SA, then a stint at Drop In chain. I learnt about the “cash float”.


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Sarah Szegota (Thornton), Communications Manager, New Zealand Winegrowers, Auckland

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born in Leeds, brought up a Yorkshire gal and schooled at Nottingham University. 

First wine industry job
If you don’t count serving wine to the people of Horsforth on a Friday night, then Samples Co-ordinator at Bottle Green Ltd – a wine importer and distributor in the North of England.


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Kat Wiggins, Marketing Manager at Seresin Estate, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled
Born in London, but since then, the only way is Essex!

First wine industry job

Fine wine sales support at Lay & Wheeler in the UK


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Jacqueline Clarke, On-Premise Sales Manager at Tickety-Boo Liquor, Auckland

Born, Bred, Schooled 
Christchurch! Linwood High School, University of Canterbury (BA, Art History & Classics).
 
First wine industry job 
Distinguished Vineyards, part of Lion Nathan back in the days when New Zealand Wines and Spirits still existed. It was a brilliant time, passionate people doing a fantastic job of proving to the trade that Lion was serious about good wine. Unfortunately it didn't last.....


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Annabelle Latz, Cellar Hand at New Zealand Wineries Ltd, Riverlands, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled      
Born in Auckland... (my little secret.,... !) I moved to North Canterbury when I was two years-old. which is where I was raised. I went to High School at Rangi Ruru Girls' School.
 
First wine industry job       
This one! As a cellar hand at New Zealand Wineries Ltd in Riverlands, Marlborough, which I began in March. I also contribute regularly to the local industry magazine here in Marlborough called WinePress with various articles, and I have a monthly column on the day to day activities of being a cellar hand.


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Richard Flatman, Viticulturalist, Neudorf Vineyards, Nelson

Born, Bred, Schooled
Bred- ask Mum and Dad
Born – Ashburton finally cut my mullet off last week
Schooled -  in the mighty Ashburton
 
First wine industry job
1996 at Banrock Station in the Riverland district of South Australia.
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Tessa Nicholson, Editor at Winepress and New Zealand Winegrower Magazine, Marlborough


Born, Bred, Schooled

Born in Wanganui, educated in Palmerston North – not renowned wine regions it has to be said.


First wine industry job
Ahh, not really in the wine industry as such, but first wine writing job was with the Marlborough Express in Blenheim, doing the wine round. Can you believe it, no one else wanted it. As my husband and I  had been growing grapes for a few years they thought I knew something about the industry. Little did they know!


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Sue Davies, owner, Wine 2 Trade, Wellington

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born in Scotland was an Air Force Brat so trotted / schooled in various places around the world before finishing in Cambridge (UK)

First wine industry job

Villa Maria (where I think half of the NZ wine industry have come via) - have fantastic long term ties with the ‘after VM' and still ‘with VM' employees!


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Jo Mills, Rippon Vineyard, Central Otago

Born, Bred, Schooled:

London, Oxford, Central Otago....

First wine industry job:

Importing Rhone & Languedoc wines in London at Mistral Wines.


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Paul Mason, Winemaker, Martinborough Vineyard, South Wairapara

Born, Bred, Schooled
Born and Bred in Auckland, schooled at Sunnynook Primary (arguably the best primary school on the North Shore or least it was then)

First wine industry job
Selling wines at Robbie Burns Glenfield whilst at Uni. Not a noted wine shop but great boss who got be inspired to get into the winemaking side of the industry.


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Greg Allinson, Pask Winery, Hawkes Bay

Born, Bred, Schooled
All three in the cold, hardy North East of England

First wine industry job
Bars Manager for hospitality group, Met a Kiwi wine rep. Kept buying his wines.
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Katrina Sutherland, Production Winemaker/Quality Manager, Constellation Brands, Auckland

Born, Bred, Schooled

Wyndham Southland, hung out with the sheep dogs and pigs on the Farm, Wyndham Primary, Menzies College, Otago University, Lincoln University

First wine industry job - year

Vintage cellar hand 1996, not sure if you can count taste tester of Mum and Dad’s wines at age 6!


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Dave Kenny, Export Director, Wairau River Wines, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born - Upper Hutt, Bred - Rotorua, Schooled – Rotorua and Auckland  

First wine industry job - year

Vinimark Distributors, Durban, South Africa


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Sam Kim, Publisher & Author, Wine Orbit Magazine, Auckland

Born, Bred, Schooled

Seoul, Korea, where the student to teacher ratio is 70:1 (that's at private schools, can be up to 90:1 in public schools. At least it used to be when I went to school).

First wine industry job - year

Wine Waiter at Glenview Motor Hotel in Hamilton (1984), selling mainly carafes of wine filled from bag-in-box. Nobilo's Muller Thurgau was premium, Black Tower was super premium.


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Simon Nunns, Winemaker, Coopers Creek Vineyard Ltd, Auckland

Born, Bred, Schooled

Matamata. Attended Matamata Primary, then Intermediate, then College. Massey University then Lincoln University.

First wine industry job

Working at Tasman Liquor in Courtney Place, Wellington in 1990. A steady cliental of glue sniffers, drunks and homeless people made the job very interesting.


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Raymond Chan, Wine Reviewer, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, Wellington

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born, bred and schooled in Dunedin

First wine industry job

Wine Advisor, Wilson Neill, Wellington - 1989


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Nick Picone, Senior Winemaker, Villa Maria, Auckland

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born and Bred Napier, Hawkes Bay and still proud to support the Magpies... 8 different schools attended between Hawkes Bay, Australia and Te Kauwhata. Completed 7th form at Te Kauwhata College with a Certificate in Grape and Wine production and BA in Wine Science obtained from EIT Hawkes Bay between 1996 - 2002.

First wine industry job
Esk Valley Estate cellar door and cellar hand, 1996.
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Angela Clifford, Wine Ambassador - Waipara Valley

Also Riesling Girl -Summer of Riesling, Pinot Madam -Pinot Noir NZ 2013

Born, Bred, Schooled

Family originally from North Canterbury, Christchurch has my heart forever, Rangi girl until the day I die!

First wine industry job

Universal Wine Bar, Adelaide 1995


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Belinda Jackson, Consultant, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, grew up on the edge of the New Forest in a town called Fordingbridge, Hampshire. Schooled in Salisbury at South Wilts Grammar School for Girls (groan) followed by Brockenhurst College near Lymington, New Forest. 

First wine industry job

Working in a pub back home in the UK in the mid-eighties, or if that doesn't count, working in various chateaux near Bordeaux in 1986


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Lucy Walter, Admin / Production Logistics at Tinpot Hut Wines, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled

Waipukurau, Onga Onga, St Matthews Masterton

First wine industry job

1995 Cairnbrae Vineyards. Great Vintage to start my wine career off in?!


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