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 - year:

Cellar Hand at Te Awa Winery in 2006.

First real (full time) job (outside of school/uni holidays):

Freezing worker.

Career Highlight:

Im hoping this is still to come!!

Cat? Dog?

Definitely Dog... spend many hours hanging out and hunting with my 2 year old Hungarian Vizsla - Crosby.

Desert Island wine and food...

Fresh Nz seafood with an aged Chenin Blanc from the Loire.

Mentor/Influencer?

Personally my folks for sure. Professionally - my long time mentor Jenny Dobson.

Dinner table companions, dead or alive?

Jim Morrison, Eddie Vedder, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Rudolf Steiner.    

Greatest achievement!

Convincing my (now) wife, Tarryn to move out from the UK. 

New Zealand wine industry needs…

To have more faith in the wines of Hawkes Bay and promote them on an equal footing with the more 'famous' regions and varieties.    

If you weren't working in the wine industry, what would you be doing?

I love working with wine and food so if I wasn't making wine I would maybe be a Chef....

One thing about you people might be surprised to learn...

I was named in the Otago Maori Rugby Team....... Im not Maori though........ awkward phone call....

If you had the day off tomorrow what would you like to do?

Fishing, hunting, hanging out with my wife and daughter, any of these and I would be a happy man.    

Connections:

 

FB:         https://www.facebook.com/williammurdochwines?ref=hl

Web:      www.williammurdoch.co.nz    

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