Pyramid Valley Vineyards appoints first managing director

19 November 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

Pyramid Valley Vineyards appoints first managing director

One of the country’s leading young viticulturists, Caine Thompson has joined Pyramid Valley Vineyards in Waikairi, North Canterbury, as its first managing director.

Thompson, formerly viticulturist with Mission Estate Winery in Hawke’s Bay, is a previous winner of the national Young Viticulturist award and the over-arching New Zealand Young Horticulturist competition.

With a strong expertise in organic grape growing, and a soon to be completed MBA under his belt, Thompson, will be working closely with owners, Mike and Claudia Weersing to raise the profile of the biodynamically-managed vineyards and the select range of wines, both nationally and internationally.

Further strength is added to the Pyramid winemaking team by Brittany Thompson, formerly of Elephant Hill Winery, Hawke’s Bay. She brings significant international experience from cult producers such as Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle in the Napa Valley of California, where she worked with consultant winemaker, Andy Erickson.

“The level of focus in the vineyard and attention to detail across the Home Collection and Growers Collection is incredible,” says Thompson. With Mike’s unique international winemaking style, these wines are redefining quality and distinction. They’re collectable wines that speak of their place and that’s a real attraction for us.”

Among the developments underway is a new winery being built on site, which will allow for complete integration of all winemaking to occur on site including the Growers Collection and Home Collection ranges.

A new website is being developed that will streamline online purchasing for domestic and international customers. Thompson will also be working on strategies to manage the strong demand for the extremely limited supply of the hand crafted, select pick wines.

“Running out of wine is a real issue,” says Thompson. “So much so that the 2012 Home Collection will all be sold through allocation to our key partners and our mailing list friends alone. It’s an interesting challenge to have that is assisting us in our reputation of honesty and distinction.”

“We are super excited to have these two passionate and very well respected individuals in the wine industry working with us,” says Mike Weersing . “The unique combination of skill sets of the Thompsons was exactly what we were looking for as we move Pyramid Valley Vineyards into the next phase of development.”

ENDS

www.pyramidvalley.co.nz

“If New Zealand has created a finer Pinot Noir than these two single-vineyard wines from Pyramid Valley Vineyards (Angel Flower & Earth Smoke), I haven’t tasted it. They are among the finest out-of-Burgundy experiences I’ve ever had.” Matter Kramer, Wine Spectator.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

“Wine to us is a genie, genius loci; our job is to coax it from its rock bottle. Every gesture we make, in vineyard and winery, is a summons to this spirit of place. Biodynamics, hand-based viticulture, low yields, natural winemaking – these are some of the means we’ve adopted better to record and transmit this voice.” Mike and Claudia Weersing.

Mike and Claudia Weersing came to New Zealand in 1996, when Mike began making wine with Tim and Judy Finn at Neudorf Vineyards in Nelson. After a long and intensive search to find a site for their own vineyard, they purchased a farm in the Pyramid Valley, near Waikari in North Canterbury, in 2000.

The vineyard of 2.2 hectares planted in four separate blocks, has been biodynamically managed from inception. The clay-limestone soils are married to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, planted on scarp slopes, at a density of 10,000-12,000 vines per hectare. The Home Collection blocks are named after the weed varieties predominant in each, which also reflect the different soils.

Grapes for the Growers Collection are supplied by admired colleagues around the country, and with sites, soils, and varieties different than those of the Home Collection.

Mike studied oenology and viticulture in Burgundy. He has worked extensively in the vineyards and cellars of Europe, and has made wine in France and in Spain. New world vintages include apprenticeships with James Halliday at Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley of Australia.

Claudia is a committed biodynamicist.

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