Amisfield Wine Company

Dr Stephanie Lambert Winemaker  Dr Stephanie Lambert's appointment as Amisfield's chief winemaker is a realisation of her long held ambition to make quality Pinot Noir under snowcapped mountains in Central Otago.
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Dr Stephanie Lambert Winemaker

Dr Stephanie Lambert's appointment as Amisfield's chief winemaker is a realisation of her long held ambition to make quality Pinot Noir under snowcapped mountains in Central Otago.

Stephanie has been the winery's assistant winemaker since 2008 and is well qualified for the new role graduating from the University of Adelaide with a PH.D in Oenology in 2002.

After three years gaining experience in all aspects of wine production in Australia, and time spent in both Oregon in the United States and Burgundy in France learning the trade, she was drawn back to New Zealand.

Initially she was employed at Sileni Estates in Hawkes Bay as assistant Pinot Noir winemaker followed by two years as the winemaker responsible for red wine production.

"But I always had a dream of making Pinot Noir under snowcapped mountains and after working in vineyards around Central Otago I was fortunate enough to join the Amisfield Wine Company."

"Amisfield Pinot Noir has had a lot of success, particularly the 2008 vintage, and my vision is to build on what has already been achieved and continue to make consistently good pinot wines which are a reflection of the Lowburn vineyard."

Stephanie is attracted by the "hands off" approach to winemaking at the company's state-of-the-art wine production facility at Lowburn.

"Amisfield's 'grown not made' concept is so much in line with my own philosophy for making wines with integrity and purity from quality grapes. The standard of viticulture is extremely high and there is an incredible sense of place at Amisfield with the vineyards surrounding the winery and all the winery activity concentrated in one area. Now that the vineyard is established there is a good understanding of what we can expect from grapes grown on the individual blocks."

And while Stephanie has a love for Pinot she admits to a real passion for Riesling too - watch this space!

Contact: Dr Stephanie Lambert, steph@amisfield.co.nz Ph +64 3 445 4901

Vineyard Manager - Andre Lategan  Andre Lategan's extensive viticultural background gained from his family's Cape Town vineyard ...
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Vineyard Manager - Andre Lategan

Andre Lategan's extensive viticultural background gained from his family's Cape Town vineyard made him an ideal candidate for Amisfield Wine Company's role as vineyard manager.

Andre and his wife Susan and young daughter Adrienne made the 'adventurous plunge' to emigrate to New Zealand in October 2001.

"I had lived on the family farm in the heart of South African wine land all my life and knew very little about New Zealand. It was a daunting move coming to a new country and a new culture."

The Amisfield vineyard in Lowburn is located in a 'magnificent piece of country,' according to Andre. "We live and work in paradise."

The job of managing a 60ha vineyard is substantial and Andre says he was attracted by the company's sustainable philosophy.  "I am very proud of this philosophy and have embraced it wholeheartedly. While we have been audited by Sustainable Wine Growers New Zealand and passed with flying colours we are very aware that there is still is long way to go."

Amisfield has a varying range of sites influenced by its mixture of topography. Andre predicts a good future for the company's wine along with other Central Otago labels.

"We're very lucky. There are not many sites in the world that have this sort of climate, with its extremes of heat and cold, which can produce such top Pinot Noirs as well as good Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling wines. There is competition from places like Oregon and Tasmania but we are certainly putting up a strong challenge."

While Andre's experience on the family's Capetown vineyard prepared him for most eventualities in New Zealand a new phenomenon for him has been frost.  "I had never experienced a frost before and that's certainly been a baptism of fire! The rabbits are a big problem but that's something we can win, while frosts are less beatable!"

Andre enjoys the camaraderie of the mix of nationalities he works alongside in the Amisfield vineyard.  "We have a very competent team of staff in the vineyard managed by Sue Beattie. As well as the local seasonal workers we have people from Brazil, France, Italy, Israel, Czech Republic and Japan.

Andre says he and his family could not have asked for a better outcome when he made his shift to New Zealand. "It has been hugely challenging at Amisfield but it has also been incredibly gratifying. It's been all that I hoped for."