Team Two Paddocks

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Team Two Paddocks

A better bunch you couldn't hope to meet

Proprietor

Sam Neill

Also itinerant actor. Long standing interest in wine, particularly red wine, which accounts for his rude good health. Very proud of everything about Two Paddocks, and will bore you to death on the subject if you give him a chance. Don't.

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General Mangager

Jacqui Murphy

The one at the helm

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Wine Maker

Dean Shaw

One of New Zealand's top winemakers, Dean very nearly had a career in the S.A.S.! Well, not really, we just made that up. The S.A.S. bit. See more about the hirsute and encyclopedically knowledgeable Dean in the Winemaker section.

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Viticulturist

Mike Wing

Mike has been with us since 2005, working first as assistant vineyard manager and now as the head man, boss man, head honcho of horticulture.

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Winery Consultant

Larry Mckenna

For the last two decades the maestro of New Zealand Pinot Noir, former Martinborough Vineyards winemaker Larry McKenna, has given us invaluable advice as consultant to Two Paddocks.

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Majordomo

Becca Aiken

The Majordomo — your go-to for anything even vaguely tied to the wine club

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Office Administrator

Angela Vircavs

Ange is responsible for accounts, wages, exports, logistics, compliance… and, in effect, keeping the entire operation from unravelling.

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Tour de Two Paddocks Guide extraordinaire

Ashlee Peeters

Is our tour guide extraordinaire and of late has added Marketing Assistant and Events Organiser to the list.

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Machinery Operator

Howie Marshall

Happily tastes wine when required and you'll hear him occasionally whistling something of a one-man soundtrack down the rows.

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Gardener

Naomi Linwood

If it’s growing, groomed, or thriving at Two Paddocks, chances are Naomi has had a hand in it.

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2IC Viticulturist

Dylan Crawford

Machine operator, supervisor and the one keeping things on track when Mike is away.

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Groundsman

Bruce Lauder

The fix-it man

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RSE Team Leader

Robsen Syrus

Part of the vineyard boys, though very much the one keeping things in line.

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Vineyard Hand

Barry Gibson

One of the hardworking hands behind the vines, Barry is part of the engine room of vineyard management.

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Vineyard Hand

Michel Gibson

Part of the vineyard crew, Michel works across vine management.

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Vineyard Hand

Sergio Yeoye

One of the hardworking hands behind the vines, Sergio is part of the engine room of vineyard management.

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Sams assistant

Lauren Major

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Jacqui Murphy

Jacqui began her wine industry career in 1994 working at Gibbston Valley Wines in Central Otago before studying Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University. After half a dozen vintages in Marlborough, the Hunter Valley and Bordeaux, there followed several years working in Australia, namely at iconic Tyrrell’s, before finally settling back in ‘Central’.

Her role varies widely but chiefly involves supporting the talented Two Paddocks Crew and enthusiastic Proprietor, Sam Neill, whilst ensuring that Two Paddocks wines are seen in the finest of company. Recreational heaven is disappearing into the stunningly beautiful local mountains.

Jacqui knows her way around a cheese board and makes a Bloody Mary that sets an inconveniently high benchmark.

Angela Vircavs

Ange is responsible for accounts, wages, exports, logistics, compliance… and, in effect, keeping the entire operation from unravelling. She handles all the things the rest of us prefer not to think about, and someone to keep on your side so you can be paid. Ange does all of this with alarming efficiency. Without her, the wheels would very quickly come off.

A varied career spanning roles from practice manager to a plastic surgeon, through to contracts manager for a Crown Research Institute.

In her spare time she gravitates outdoors — happiest in the Central Otago hills, mountain biking, running, or, more recently, embracing her inner bogan on a dirt bike named Steve.

Ashlee Peeters

Ashlee Is our tour guide extraordinaire, wears multiple hats and of late has added Marketing Assistant and Events Organiser to the list.

From front of house, guiding our Private Paddock members through the vineyard, to talking through the wines she manages to make it all feel effortless. At any event, it’s Ashlee’s smiling face and easy warmth that greets you.

With a background in the New Zealand Alpine Club, she’s a natural outdoors enthusiast — equally comfortable on a rock face as she is hosting a room. At home, she brings that same energy to raising three beautiful children.

Howie Marshall

Spends his days coaxing vines into behaving, managing weeds and working the tractor up and down the rows. Howie generally helps keep an organic vineyard suitably organic. Claims not to break things, or at least not to remember doing so. Happily tastes wine when required and you'll hear him occasionally whistling something of a one-man soundtrack down the rows.

With a background spanning 28 years in hospitality, NZ Sommelier of the Year runner-up (2006) a serious accolade in the wine world and a fair indication he knows what he’s talking about. He has also spent time at a quarry loading trucks and over 15 years in vineyard operations.

Outside of work, Howie keeps an eye on geopolitics, roams the Central Otago hills and is partial to good coffee on a bike ride. Known to spend time staring at the night sky, a self-confessed romantic with a distinctly earthy outlook, the sort who looks after the people around him. Happily subscribed to “happy wife, happy life” with Robyn and a fairly textbook example of being born in the 60s. They don’t tend to make them like Howie anymore.

Naomi Linwood

If it’s growing, groomed, or quietly thriving at Two Paddocks, chances are Naomi has had a hand in it. From the main house to the garden, vege patch and Clubhouse — and even into the vineyard when needed — she keeps everything in a high quality state.

Naomi oversees the lavender distill (which many of you will have had the privilege of receiving), a trained horticulturist, her background spans nursery management, hydroponic herb farming — basil, parsley and partners — and general work across properties including William Hill.

Outside of work, Naomi runs a lifestyle block with sheep, cattle and chickens, and makes the most of the outdoors — walks, caravan trips, jet boating, and spending quality time with her grandson.

A lesser-known but equally important skill: she makes a very good lemon cake.

Dylan Crawford

Machine operator, supervisor and the one keeping things on track when Mike is away. From tractor work, weeding, spraying and frost fighting to managing the crew, Dylan is here, there and everywhere.

Raised on a sheep farm and driving tractors from a young age, this was all fairly predictable. After formalising things with a Diploma in Viticulture from Otago Polytechnic, Dylan joined Two Paddocks in 2018 and has been with us ever since.

Competitive, though it mostly shows itself once a year at the mid-winter lake plunge where he has been known to arrive as a breakdancer with a handmade cardboard boombox and secret moves from the 80s.

Outside of work he enjoys clay target shooting, video games and the occasional trip away. His dry humour tends to appear without warning, but is very much part of the place.

Bruce Lauder

Landscaping, stonework, fencing, maintenance...can he fix it? Yes he can. Your guy if something needs building, repairing, or improving. He is also the office girls’ hero when it comes to rodent control.

With a background spanning self-employment, operations supervision, stonemasonry with a large contracting firm, and project management for a Tauranga-based landscaping company, he brings a steady, experienced hand to just about everything he touches.

When he can, Bruce is out on the lakes and rivers in his surf ski and while he won’t make a fuss about it, he was something of a force back in the day. Partial to a well-earned beer, but, by all accounts, time spent with his wife and daughter remains the clear favourite.

Robsen Syrus

Part of the vineyard boys, though very much the one keeping things in line. Robson leads as supervisor, overseeing the finer details — shoot thinning, wire lifting, leaf plucking and bunch thinning. The kind of work that makes all the difference come harvest.

His experience stretches across apples, grapes, kiwifruit (up in the North Island), and berries.

Originally from Efate in Vanuatu, Robson also has land back home with cows and goats, so vineyard life is really just an extension of what he already knows.

When he’s not working, he’s usually fishing whether in New Zealand or back home, travelling when he can, and catching up with friends.

Alumni

Gone but not forgotten

2.I.C

SAM WILLIAM ANDREW WOODS

Sam has written his own bio. Here it is, uncensored.

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TRACTOR AND MACHINERY

TOM CHARLES SHAW

Tom had been with us since 2013. Or possibly 2012. The records have somehow been expunged.

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CATHY SCOTT

WEBMASTER

More glamour, and more brains than you can shake a stick at.

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A tribute to Mike Wolter by Sam Neill

Mike Wolter

Mike Wolter was an important leader in the wine industry of Central Otago, and a friend to all of us at Two Paddocks. Over the years he produced many great wines at vineyards in the area. He realised a dream when he started the Central Otago Wine Company, which makes wine for several vineyards in Central Otago.

In 1997 Mike died in an industrial accident while working in the winery he created. This is a tribute to Mike, his family, and his great work.

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SAM WILLIAM ANDREW WOODS

This is a first...Grew up in rural south Canterbury on a deer farm. Ended up moving to Central for work experience during Uni and was offered a full time position in vineyard. Went back to finish last year at uni then spent the next 5 years at Felton Road. Then decided he needed to see some of the world and spent six months in Europe working in vineyards and completed two vintages. Moved to Australia for 2 1/2 years for another 2 vintages while continuing working in the vineyard. Decided to move back to Central. Keen rugby follower but still cops grief for being a Crusaders supporter even after living in central for 10 years. Lover of the outdoors.Well that’s the official version -- Sam omits that he is a Squash tragic (as in the racquet racket) and has lost more games than you have had hot dinners. Resident of Cromwell, and house prices have halved on his street since he moved in. Known to the police. Very well dressed, but even a three piece suit (see elsewhere on this site) cannot attract a girlfriend. Lower the bar girls – he’s a good guy!

TOM CHARLES SHAW

We do know that he has been confirmed as sighted on one of our tractors several times by more than one witness for more than three years.Tom comes from Winton, and never looked back. Investigations reveal that he was in fact known there as The Eastern Southland Man of Mystery. Hit man, spy, sleuth, private eye ... or just plain farmer. No one really knows. All we can say is -- just the mention of the name Tom Shaw as far afield as Tapanui makes the bluffest of farmers turn pale. Say the name in Invercargill, and locals will dive into rain barrels.Now in the more peaceful climes of Central Otago, Tom is, in his spare time, on an organic horticulture course. Which of course is right up our alley. However, this may be just a cover for his work for the KGB, CIA, SMERSH or whatever international organization is prepared to pay for his lethal skills. His mild mannered exterior we have always known as a cover for a steely, deadly interior.Tom's main hobby is photography. But all spies say that don't they?

Mike Wolter

I got to know,and become friends with, Mike and his wife Bridget in the eighties. Bridget looked after my garden, and Mike would come up the hill and give her a hand on occasion. Mike was quiet and laconic, and I soon grew to enjoy his company and the odd leisurely yarn. Mike was becoming increasingly involved with vineyards in the region, and his interest in viticulture intrigued me.

After planting the first vineyard at Gibbston, I quickly realized that Mike was logically the man to look after it. He took over the yard and his experience and quiet enthusiasm soon became apparent in the health and well being of the place.

About the same time Mike started talking to me about setting up a winery in Cromwell. It would be called, straightforwardly, The Central Otago Wine Company. Mike's idea, having had several very successful seasons as winemaker at Black Ridge, was to create a winery which would make wine for potential wine labels like my own Two Paddocks. I was onboard as a partner quickly, partly because Mike was by now a friend, but, more importantly, because I trusted implicitly his vision and judgement. This has turned out to be a good call-- the company is now in its fifth vintage and has produced some wonderful wines including of course Two Paddocks.

Tragically Mike died in 1997. This was an enormous shock and, in a sense, we're still in the process of recovery. I very much miss Mike's dry wit, and considerable wisdom. I do feel, however, that he would be pleased with how things have gone since then. The company has flourished, the vineyards he nurtured prosper, and Bridget has held together his family and business with great tenacity and courage.

His legacy lives on.

Bestiary

The real stars of the show...

Angelica

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The Calves

RICHARD ROXBURGH AND LENA HEADEY

Yes, the Lady Caine has finally, reluctantly, produced a Calf – Richard (Roxburgh). A bonny young beefy bloke if ever there was one.In addition, we have another female calf (calfette?) called Lena (Headey). We have been trying, to no avail, to have Lady Caine mother Lena, but she won’t have it. Instead we halter the truculent Lady C twice a day, while the motherless Lena has a good drink. Still, both calves flourishing.

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The Story

Farm & Vineyards