Meet the Winemaker
Gavin Patterson, Sumaridge Wines
Hemel-En-Aarde Valley, Hermanus, South Africa

Gavin Patterson’s first season in South Africa was spent with Hamilton Russell Vineyards as Vineyard Manager.  He then moved to Sumaridge in 2005, this followed an award winning first year for Gavin , Sumaridge is now going from strength to strength under his guidance.  Responsible for the direction and management of the vineyards Gavin continues his life long passion with winemaking at Sumaridge.

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Meet the Winemaker

Steve Smith MW, The Man in Charge of the Making

Craggy Range and Wild Rock, New Zealand

On paper MW Steve Smith’s academic career and reputation make for lofty ready. He is the only vineyard guy in the world to hold the Master of Wine qualification and was once described by Decanter magazine as one of the 50 most influential people in the wine world. However he’s no wine geek, rather someone with incredible experience, vital in helping to craft some great New Zealand wines. 

How did you get started in the wine trade?

By accident, was a science geek that was offered a scholarship out of high school, started research work on phylloxera and caught the bug as it were. Moved to viticulture, California study, Villa Maria, consultancy and then the ultimate, Craggy Range and Wild Rock

What’s been your proudest achievement to date?

A draw. passing the MW and creating a potentially great wine brand in Craggy Range

What attracted you to work with Craggy Range?

Craggy Range has always been in my mind, it all came to fruition when Terry Peabody asked me to establish his wine business, we took my very tiny ambitions for my own Craggy Range and made them into much bigger ambitions for all of us.

Provide a brief description of your vineyards.

We have two key estate vineyards. The Gimblett Gravels Vineyard is New Zealand’s answer to the Rhone and Bordeaux, the warmest area of New Zealand and home to the best richly textured red wines in the country. Our Te Muna Road Vineyard is the region that is New Zealand’s cool climate gem, Martinborough, home to some of the countries best Pinot Noir and our unique Sauvignon Blanc. Our other vineyards from growers and our own smaller estate vineyards provide the diversity and fabric to our single vineyard offerings.

What is your winemaking philosophy?

Tradition and innovation in the same wine. Natural where possible, our mind is in the old world, our heart is in New Zealand.

What is your most exciting grape variety?

Ambition takes over here, while Syrah is our red wine superstar, the red wines made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc represent expressions closer to the Right Bank than any other part of the world. It is that ambition that makes these wines my favourites.

What do you consider to be your biggest challenge of winemaking in New Zealand?

Our biggest challenge is ensuring the grapes are properly ripe, site selection is critical, the right philosophy in the vineyard from planning to planting to picking is the only way to achieve this.

If you could own one property in the world what would it be?

Chateau Latour

Who has been your greatest influence in the wine trade?

Its not a who its an institution, The Institute of Masters of Wine. That qualification significantly influenced my perceptions of great wine and how to perform in the wine trade. A visit to Latour in September 1991 was a seminal moment.

What’s your favourite wine and who would you share it with?

Chateau Latour any vintage and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1995. The champagne with my wife but I have a horrible selfishness when a bottle of Latour is around!

Click here for a full list of the wines available to buy on our website Craggy Range and Wild Rock wines

Meet the Winemaker

Jean-Marie Guffens

Verget, France

He has been called (by Robert Parker no less) “The worlds greatest Chardonnay winemaker”.  He started Verget in 1990 criss-crossing Burgundy to find where the best grapes, the oldest and best vineyards were situated.  Making his way he convinced the vineyard owners to supply him with good quality grapes.  The standards that he has set and the collaborations he has established over the years have cemented a real passion amongst the growers to constantly improve the quality of their products.  

Jean-Marie has a distinct winemaking process and has developed a unique style all of his own.  His wines display precision, good sharpness of fruit and considerable mineral focus married to good rich textures. In recent years he has undoubtedly been responsible for some of the most inspirational wines to come from Burgundy.

How did you get started in the wine trade?

I became winefarmer in 1980 after having tried to be an actor and a architect and as I was earning no money at all I became a courtier selling the wines of other wine farmers.  I got tired of this so decided to make the wines myself that people asked me for and started Verget in 1990

What’s been your proudest achievement to date?

Adopting my two girls in Colombia.

Provide a brief description of Verget.

We have built successful relationships with many different growers over the years.  We are hands on and work to produce the best every time.  Our grapes are all handpicked.  These are loaded in small cases to preserve the health of the grapes, carefully transported, re-sorted if needed and pressed using a pneumatic press.  There is total control of the winemaking from the beginning to the end.  All wines are vinified, ‘raised’ and bottled at Verget.

What is your winemaking philosophy?

The best grapes make the best wine.

What’s your most exciting grape variety?

Chardonnay of course, because she always ripens and permits the soil to go through the varietal character.

What do you consider to be your biggest challenge of winemaking in Burgundy?

To make good wines at popular prices at Verget.

What’s the next step for Verget?

Me getting tired and Julien (my No.2) taking over the day work!

If you could own one wine property in the world what would it be?

Château d’Yquem.

Who has been your greatest influence in the wine trade?

Mr Lucien Peyraud of Domaine Tempier in Bandol

What’s your favourite wine and who would you share it with?

Beside my own wines I love great champagnes and great sauternes and will only drink it with friends and family sitting outside in the evening at Tourettes.

Favourite place to relax away from the vineyard?

Under the olive trees at Tourettes or on Broadway Avenue in New York.

For a full list of the Verget wines available to buy on our website click here.