Wineries cultivate overseas expertise

SARA MEIJ-KILPATRICK - WINE MARLBOROUGH

Every year, skilled wine professionals from around the world are drawn to Marlborough for vintage - excited to be part of something that's both deeply local and globally respected. And the scene they step into is incredibly diverse, from big-name producers with international reputations to small family estates and boutique operations.

It takes a huge range of people to make it all happen. Come harvest time, winery teams grow quickly, bringing in cellar hands, winemakers, vineyard crews, lab techs, engineers, truck drivers and logistics pros. Many have honed their skills in wine regions across Europe, the Americas, South Africa and Australia.

That exchange of knowledge is one of Marlborough's real superpowers. Skills get passed down through generations, but they also travel across regions and borders. People come here to learn from one of the world's best wine regions, and they give plenty back in return: new techniques, fresh ideas, and a shared love for the land and the craft.

The roles needed for vintage are as varied as the region itself. A genuine interest in wine always helps - people who care about what they're making tend to put in that extra effort. Wither Hills Senior Winemaker Patricia Miranda-Taylor says they’re employing 30 people this year from 11 different countries.

“Harvest brings together a wonderfully mixed group of people, each contributing something different,” she says. “Beyond technical skills and experience, one of the greatest strengths of our harvest team is the diversity and energy people bring. Each year we welcome individuals from different countries, cultures, backgrounds and ages, which creates a vibrant and dynamic workplace.”

Rocco Capozza from Italy is working at Framingham for his first harvest in New Zealand. He says he felt Marlborough, as “one of the world’s most dynamic and respected wine regions”, would be the perfect place for him to develop his winemaking skills. He says Marlborough stands apart from other wine regions he’s worked in - mainly in its intensity and focus.

But it’s not just the winemaking he’s looking forward to - it’s meeting new people as well. “Marlborough attracts cellar hands and winemakers from all over the world, and I’m really keen to meet and work alongside other wine industry professionals with different backgrounds and experiences.”

Framingham Assistant Winemaker Stef Suarez says they have about seven extra staff for vintage this year, including Rocco, with others from Austria, the USA, Italy and from around New Zealand.

“It's awesome to see people from different parts of the world choosing to do a harvest here in Marlborough. It shows that Marlborough is still a world-leading wine region,” she says.

“We look for people who are ready to get involved and learn about the winemaking process with hands-on experience,” says Astrolabe Marketing, Sustainability and Compliance Coordinator Tegan Renwick-Foster. “We love that our cellar door managers get to work in our on-site winery during harvest because it gives them an even deeper understanding of the processes of the wines they are then serving to our guests.”