Gone But Not Forgotten

Sometimes our staff move on, and we are grateful for their contribution while they were with us. Most of them are hardly even scarred. We like to keep in touch. Here we print for posterity their original entries and “Where Are They Now!”

Richard Flatman

Vineyard Manager

Richard (plus Sherree and family) have moved on to bigger things at Neudorf Wines in the Nelson district – colleagues well respected by all at Two Paddocks. Richard is now the head viticulturist there under the august leadership of Tim Finn (the other Tim Finn).

Grace

the Dog

Grace, Richard's mate, has moved on with his family.

Fire and Grace were pretty companionable but oddly enough Grace’s closest and most constant friend was a red chicken. We're sure that Grace has found a new chicken friend in Nelson.

Ian Madison

Coordinator

Found at the R.S.P.C.A. by management. Has made partial recovery. His complete ignorance on the subject of wine (and most other topics) has brought a fresh perspective to our approach at T.P. After six years of careful tuition, has almost grasped the know-how involved in opening a bottle, and thus we have cautious hopes for his future in the team. Unpaid. Raised in Frankston, Victoria and therefore very hard to understand. We have found sign language sometimes helps. Ask to speak to his supervisor if he answers the phone.

Where is he now:

Sommelier, and Trolly Dolly for Qantas. Keep your head down if you see a large grin approaching down the aisle.

Ruth Elliott

Morale Consultant

Married to Dean Shaw, our esteemed winemaker, Ruth was in charge of sales for 3 or 4 years at Head Office, but has recently been promoted to Executive Cheerleader. Management assures our clients that cronyism has almost nothing to do with Ruth's position. Ruth is widely liked, even loved, the length of New Zealand. In fact it is estimated that she is related to 72.8% of all New Zealanders. Ruth and Dean now have a son, Enzo, a bonny lad who has refused any non-alcoholic beverages since 3 months of age; we are very proud here at Head Office.

Where is she now:

Uber mum! To Enzo and Pablo.

Bridget Wolter

Executive Director, Central Otago Wine Company

Miraculously still in her early 20's Bridget provides, among many other qualities, the glamour in the Two Paddocks team. Just as well, as we are desperately short of it otherwise. Educated above and beyond the demands of brain surgery at St Hilda's College, Dunedin's exclusive academy for well bred girls, Bridget emerged as a leading contender for Southland's Debutante of the Year in 1985. However turning her back on the dizzying height of Invercargill society, Bridget left for years of gruelling study at Canterbury's prestigious Lincoln College where New Zealand's Finest famously pursue the agricultural sciences with almost monk-like dedication and sobriety, as well as the dreaming spires of Manawatu's Massey University. Soon thereafter, marriage to Mike Wolter brought her to Central Otago where Bridget and Mike undertook several milestone enterprises, including design and maintenance of New Zealand's finest garden at Tematakouru in the Wakatipu Basin.

Bridget now runs the Central Otago Wine Company with both iron fist and infinite charm. She rigorously refuses to tolerate anything second rate or slack and is entirely responsible for the dynamic and efficient organisation CO Wine Co has become. We at Two Paddocks are both awed and gratified to have her on the team. And we promise to be good.

Jo Shroff

Our Manager at Redbank

Well liked and amiable, Jo was brought up in Dunedin. Educated there and finishing at Otago University, studying among other things biochemistry, physics and chemistry -- ideal for the future work at Redbank. Also anthropology, but we're not quite sure where that fits in.

Jo's career includes building, farming, truck driving and ten years as a full time artist (stained glass). In the last few years increasingly interested in alternative crops, and matters organic. This led him to Redbank and to become the producer of Redbank's famous natural oils -- notably Redbank Lavender Oil. Also designs own hats, and hoping for export market. (See photo.)

At Redbank we are expanding our production of oils, which we see as being complimentary to our production of great wines. Jo leads the way!

Where is he now:

In Auckland we hear. Otherwise, a mystery man.

Midge Shaw

Midge has been with us since mid 2006 and is now critical to all our operations. She runs the field hands in an amazingly humane and friendly fashion (Management tends to favour the lash and harsh language but we understand that that’s probably not on these days). There are rumours that this uncommonly decent behaviour is connected to Midge’s status as a grandmother. This we find impossible to believe since she looks about 18 or 19. Truth they say can be stranger than fiction.

Anyway, easily the most glamorous of our team.

Where is she now:

Has followed the sun to Australia. On the beach when last spotted, possibly with blokes.

Team America

Our newest arrivals (late 2006) are the lads from Team America.

Tim Neill Harrow, Elliot Siegel, and Casey Nering are fresh off the boat brimming with ideas and energy, when they’re not in bed with hangovers. We are told that’s what happens when you’re 23 or 24 and male (not in my day! – Ed). Midge and Mike are driving them hard and they’re responding manfully and getting fit.

Anyway hands across the ocean and all that. Team America’s interests include cars, beer, girls, beer, girls and 19th century German philosophy. Proprietor and management try to look serious in their presence. Two of Team America will be playing for Clyde Rugby this winter. The third will be watching TV (Team America’s other passion….)

Heard in the paddocks:
America. America. America. Yeah!
Coming again to save the (expletive deleted) day. Yeah!
America (expletive deleted). Yeah!
(Sung to the tune of “Greensleeves”)

Where are they now:

Team America are representing the Stars and Stripes in the mines of Australia. Tim, in film industry Wellington. Alexandra quiet again.

Philippa Wither

Where is she now:

Now vigneron at Wild Earth Wines - Big Promotion!

Kaol Lee – Tuck

Not nearly as Chinese as he sounds, Kaol come to us pretty much straight out of Polytech green, naïve, enthusiastic, friendly and eager to learn – we knocked all that out of him pretty smartly. He’s now as jaded and cynical as the rest of us. No – only kidding – Kaol is a sound man on and off the vineyard, and his knowledge of our terrior and his great capacity for hard work has made him an invaluable part of the team.

Amazingly he has an attractive girlfriend. Go figure! So, no more fan mail please.

Where is he now:

Last seen on the beach in Western Australia.

Darryle Tamati

Darryle briefly considered a career as a Wall Street Banker. However a glimpse of Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas in red braces took the gloss of the ambition, and he turned instead to greener pastures.

He has joined us after twenty five years in grounds maintenance in Dunedin. Darryle comes from the famous rugby league Tamati family. However here in Earnscleugh, the nearest rugby league side is across the alps, so he turns out for Clyde (Rugby Union) and at 48 is easily the oldest winger in New Zealand rugby, if not the world.

Karen Mitchell

Assistant to Proprietor, T. P.

A whizz with the zimmerframe, Karen is all purpose supernumerary to Two Paddocks and to the veteran proprietor (now sometimes known as “veteran” actor; we assume, as in the car world this means older than “vintage”)

Karen has put her years as jetsetter and supermodel behind her, and now is concentrating on the world of commerce and entertainment. Plays squash, tennis, netball, shotput, trapeze, basejumping and ice hockey. Has recently retired from representative rugby pretty much unhurt. Also has political aspirations, but keeps them to herself.

Brian Croot

Our most senior and revered team member, Brian has been with us for longer than anyone can remember. In spite of his obvious youth and general sprightliness, Brian was previously a farmer from Southland having taken up a landholding circa 1898. As a consequence Brian knows more about farming, more about fixing machinery, more about … er … animal husbandry, horticulture etc. than the combined staff of Lincoln College. He is a source of wisdom and knowledge, and a mentor to junior staff. In a line-up of villains and wastrels, Brian is the only certified Good Guy!

Tom Rowley and Benji Bradley

On loan from Otago and Victoria Universities, Tom and Benji have their sights eventually on NASA. At least we think that’s what they said.