Zoe Marychurch
Since graduating the Lincoln BV&O degree in 2015, Zoe has worked in vineyards in Marlborough, Central Otago and North Canterbury as well as travelling for vintages in Australia, Oregon and the beautiful Jura region of France. She has been part of the viticultural team at Pegasus Bay since 2019, settling down to close to family with her husband and their cats. Women in Wine involvement naturally progressed from participating in Young Viticulturist competitions and she is passionate about mentoring newcomers and young people in the industry, promoting the importance of mental health, and cultivating strong relationships in the workplace.
Katie Lumber
Katie Lumber is the proud owner of Waipara Springs Winery and Restaurant, a beloved family winery in the Waipara Valley. With a creative background in textiles and clothing, she brings a unique flair to her role as proprietor. Her passion for wine is evident in every aspect of the business, from the carefully selected grapes to the welcoming family atmosphere she cultivates. She's been at the helm for seven years, building the business into the thriving establishment it is today, and recently purchased the property! Her hard work, dedication, and creative vision are an inspiration.
Jacqui Smith
I grew up here in the Hurunui district, and my grandfather planted grapes on the Waipara River bed when I was beginning high school, so I would help out there in the school holidays. He recommended that I study winemaking, and after spending 4 years at Canterbury studying other things, I eventually decided that he was right and then went to Lincoln to get the GradDipV&O. Since then I have worked in many wineries around the world, specialising in lab work a lot of the time, before returning to Waipara in 2016. I have been with The Crater Rim since 2017, and the Assistant Winemaker since 2018. I really enjoy the wines we make here, and our hands off approach to winemaking, letting the wines (and vineyards) really speak for themselves.
Tina George
Tina George has spent the largest period of her working life in the field. From vineyard development, to working amongst the vines, to managing all aspects of running a vineyard, she’s done it all. She also plays an integral part in further growing the success of KLIMA - the award winning vineyard pruning system now sold around the world. The innovation was conceived by her husband Nigel George and their friend Marcus Wickham. They are created in Waipara and Tina enjoys an incredibly varied role which includes marketing, general management and visiting overseas vineyard managers.