Jacqueline MacLaurin
Age: 29
Title: Technical Viticulturist Wither Hills
How long have you worked in Marlborough? Four and a half years, although it feels a lot longer.
What brought you to Marlborough? I was working in Sonoma, California, applied for a job in Marlborough, got it, so packed up, came home and moved to Marlborough.
Where have you travelled in wine to get here? My wine career has been relatively short, and so I haven’t done much travelling in wine. I worked a vintage in Sonoma, California and last year was lucky enough to go on holiday to Europe which involved brief visits to wine regions in France, Spain and Italy.
What do you enjoy most about your job? I enjoy working with the great team at Wither Hills, and the constant challenge that working in an agricultural environment brings to my job.
What do you enjoy most about Marlborough? The accessibility to so many things in this region is what makes it so great for me – the mountains for tramping, the Sounds for sailing and the relatively close distance to some larger cities – Nelson and Wellington.
When you are not making wine or growing grapes? Flying around the country to weddings seems to be the thing to do at the moment, other than that trying to get out into the region tramping or catching up with friends.
It sucks when….? The alarms for frost go off at 1am.
Your favourite wine? Millton Chenin Blanc (must support my Gisborne roots)
Which wine region excites you most right now? New Zealand: Marlborough is a great place to be at the current time. In my role I have the opportunity to work with Plant and Food Research on new trials and I believe we are doing a lot of forward thinking in this region with new technologies that are on offer. Internationally: Rioja, Spain – A friend lives in this region and to see the age of the vines and how they’re growing grapes was really interesting. We also visited a vineyard there that’s doing a lot of research into Clonal variation which is an interesting topic.
Future aspirations? To do
more travelling and working in
wine regions around the world to gain more knowledge in the different methods of growing grapes.
Andrew Brown
Age: 36
Title: Assistant Winemaker
Framingham Wines
How long have you worked in Marlborough? Off and on for the last 9 years.
What brought you to Marlborough? Work opportunities fresh out of Lincoln in 2005.
Where have you travelled in wine to get here? Vintages in Alsace and Oregon and had a short stint in Central Otago. Have been pretty permanent in Marlborough for the last six years and at Framingham for the last four.
What do you enjoy most about your job? Love (and sometimes loath) the buzz that comes with harvest ie; seat of your pants decision making, meeting new people year in year out. More specifically working with a great group of people at Framingham....(that should get me out of baking a cake for the next couple of “Friday Cake Days”).
What do you enjoy most about Marlborough? We are very fond of the Kaikoura Coast and The Sounds of course. Growing up in South Otago (where they grow a bloody good sweed.....vines not so much) I appreciate the climate too.
When you’re not making wine or growing grapes? Hanging with Jules and our twin daughters Alice and Isabelle, jamming/playing in local band “The Dead Parrots”, trying to sneak down the Kaikoura coast for a wave which is once in a blue moon these days, DIY on our house.
It sucks when…? our dog Joe eats grape mark and he has to have his stomach pumped at the vets......$280 later ....not the first time either and I doubt it will be the last, he’s part lab after all.
Your favourite wine? Tough one, can’t name one specifically but really dig Mosel producers like Van Volxem in the south to Heymann Lowenstien in the north, they just consistently deliver....in my humble opinion.
Which wine region excites you most right now? Andrew and Debra Hedley import wines from some lesser known regions in Europe via their company “Oh So Pretty Wines”. Within their portfolio are a number of Nth Eastern Italian wines that are sparking my interest and there are many others that I need to try. Closer to home I am enjoying Hawke’s Bay and Waiheke Syrahs.
Future aspirations? Keep enjoying myself and learning in this trade. Work and live somewhere in Europe (probably France) with my family for a period of time. Write and record at least one musical track.
Nigel Sowman
Age: 35
Title: Viticulturist for Dog Point Vineyard.
How long have you worked in Marlborough? 11 years.
What brought you to Marlborough? Family and work.
Where have you travelled in wine to get here? Lincoln University to Marlborough to South Australia to California to Dog Point then Bordeaux back to Dog Point.
What do you enjoy most about your job? The attention to detail, emphasis on quality and organics, also the large variety of other work, sheep, olives, apricots, organic gardens, extensive native plantings, pine nuts. Ivan and Margaret Sutherland have a fantastic plan for the property that makes it more than just a vineyard.
What do you enjoy most about Marlborough? The climate, proximity to the Sounds where our Bach is, gathering seafood and other wild food.
When you’re not making wine or growing grapes? Looking after my new born, milking my wife’s sheep, spearfishing or diving, gardening.
It sucks when….things don’t go to plan, in a bad way.
Your favorite wine? Vina Tondonia (Rioja) just tastes of Spain.
Which wine region excites you most right now? Rioja for the age of it and Marlborough for the future potential .
Future aspirations? Grow better and better grapes. See more of Marlborough under organics.
Sarah Burton
Age : 34
Title : Cloudy Bay Winemaker
How long have you worked in Marlborough? I have been working permanently now in Marlborough for 10 years.
What brought you to Marlborough? My first real job after university was at Montana Winery here in Marlborough and I immediate loved being involved with making Sauvignon Blanc.
Where have you travelled in wine to get here? I have worked in Oregon, Duoro Valley, Bordeaux, Hunter Valley, Tuscany and in New Zealand in both Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough.
What do you enjoy most about your job? The people you meet from all over the world.
What do you enjoy most about Marlborough? Marlborough is great in that even though it is great to spend time here, within 1 hours drive from the township you can be in the Marlborough Sounds sailing, skiing at Rainbow, on the way to Kaikoura or even over the Strait in Wellington enjoying the great city.
When you’re not making wine or growing grapes? I spend a lot of my time catching up with friends and planning the next holiday/dinner idea.
Your favourite wine ? Champagne. My favourite one I have tried recently is from the producer Cedric Bouchard RDJ ‘La Boleree’ 2007. Delicious.
Which wine region excites you most right now? I think the wine region that excites me most at the moment is Central Otago. It is such a small region but has such great diversity within its sub regions. It is so young but already has so much to offer.
Future aspirations ? To get my pilot’s licence.
