Sam Neill

Proprietor

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. Has visions of a vast Two Paddocks Empire, but is usually better the next day. Plays cricket badly, also the ukulele. Pretends to be a fly fisherman. Not related to Sam Hunt.

Sam is an active proponent of protecting and preserving New Zealand's precious natural resources. He is a member of the Sustainability Council of New Zealand, a trustee of the National Parks and Conservation Foundation and a Patron for Waitaki First.

Noriko Watanabe

C.E.O. Lavender and Saffron Division

Closely related to proprietor. Top Hollywood make-up artist and Top Chef also. Good looking sort.

Jacqui Murphy

Manager

An illustrious career as Prefect, Dux, and all round Sporty Spice at New Zealand’s finest School for Gels, Jacqui was easily the fittest and brainiest graduate of her year.

Too tall for the Royal NZ Ballet, and too short for the Black Ferns,  Jacqui then turned to the more exacting world of Wine.

Studied Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University, and remembers most of it. Never seen at parties. Then three years in gumboots for vintages in Central and France, before concentrating on Marketing. She then spent 7 years working in Australia (Cellar Masters and Tyrrells) which almost ruined her impeccable accent, but did wonders for her life-saving skills. Then back to the Long White Cloud to Akarua and Valli.

Loves Central, Two Paddocks and plays Kumbiya on the guitar. Has a naughty dog, Rupert Murdog.

Jacqui is the go-to here at HQ, and we go to her. And so should you.

Dean Shaw

Lead Winemaker

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.

Mike Wing

Vineyard Manager

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. Mike knows our vineyards like the back of his capable hands, and has energy and commitment to burn. We are all excited about a new era with Mike at the helm, with his staff and management behind him like Caesar’s legions. (all four of us).

Simon Gourley

Vineyard Supervisor

Simon has been with us for some years while on holiday breaks, and then full time since 2010, and has now rocketed his way to the prestigious and sought after position of Supervisor.

Simon had the great good fortune to be born and educated in Invercargill – Invercargill to N. Z. is what Cambridge is to England – and is probably the most distinguished graduate of that fair city’s justifiably famous Verdon College (note : the Rolling Stones were possibly drunk or worse, when they described Invercargill as the “arsehole of the world" back in the day. And Tim Shadbolt was not yet Mayor then) .

He flew through Lincoln College, having taken his exams mostly in a sober state – a practice traditionally frowned upon there – and emerged with a degree in viticulture. Three years there coupled with a similar time at the University of Hard Knocks (Two Paddocks Ltd), and Simon is ready for anything.

Simon’s other interests include wine tasting, rocket science, and slow cars. Has a girlfriend apparently, but no one really believes this. No sightings to date. A much valued member of the innovative and energetic Two Paddocks Team lead by Mike.  As opposed to the idle and retrogessive Two Paddocks team (The Prop).

Larry McKenna

Vineyard Consultant

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. He brings his expertise not only to the winery, but also to the vineyard. He is, in addition, excellent company over a good meal and a bottle or three of our excellent Pinot and we look forward to his visits down south. Now has his own Escarpment Wine - another wonderful label.

Keith Robertson

The most coveted job at Two Paddocks (originally created by the legendary Brian Croot, now in semi and indolent retirement across the valley) is that of T.P. farmer/groundsman/greens/landscaper/story teller/bon-vivant.

Brian set the tone here – louche, urbane and erudite, he could turn a Massey Fergusson on a dime ( well a tuppenny piece probably).

So into Brian’s two toned brogues steps Keith – adventurer/rugby coach/motellier/farmer/kabuki busker/martial arts aficionado. A legend at Rotary in other words.

Keith brings a keen analytical and inquiring mind to the smoko table and a crisp and sophisticated finish to the mowing. “Keith is awesome” Otago Mountain Scene

Dennis Hearfield

Designer

Since Hearfield is a very old friend of our proprietor, some have said his position as graphic designer supremo is a blatant and disgraceful example of cronyism at Two Paddocks.

This is an outrageous libel that we vigorously deny. It is, in fact, Hearfield's lifelong devotion to wine and good living that made him our obvious and first choice. (Very good living actually). His intimate study of wine labels for instance is a case in point -- some of us remember with admiration times in which Dennis would selflessly devote an entire night to at least a dozen different bottles, and wake the next morning only inches away from his favourite design.

Hearfield studied at the distinguished University of Canterbury Art School. He is chiefly remembered there for his playing of the jug in the legendary Band of Hope Jug Band (along with several other cronies of the proprietor) This required no musicality at all, but a great set of lungs. Again, just the man for the job.

Since that time Hearfield has been at the top of his game in Sydney, a career of such renown it needs no elaboration here. He is so often seen at some of our favourite restaurants that occasionally rumours surface that there may be more than one Hearfield, and that either he is one of triplets or some mad scientist has cloned our friend. Not a happy thought.

He is unaccountably irresistibly attractive to women, something we at Two Paddocks try not to resent. He in fact lives with one Sydney's great beauties, who sadly prefers to remain anonymous on these pages.

It was Dennis' idea that we use a different flower on our labels every year. We love his work, and we are gratified that our bottles are not only immediately recognizable but also look completely different from anything else on the market. Once a year when the new label arrives the collective cheer goes up at T.P.H.Q.- "On yer Den!" This roughly translates as "Excellent work again, maestro."

Neil Gaudin

Executive Director, Central Otago Wine Company

Neil is an old pal of Mike Wolter, and an accountant to boot. Also enjoys another life as Dunedin's fashion guru and style leader. Party animal and tireless clubber, Neil is handy at vintage time as DJ for C.O. Wine Co, the country's loudest winery. Respect! Has a vast wine cellar, but prefers Two Paddocks above all else. And who can blame him for that.

Catherine Hamilton

Office Administration

Graduate of John Moores University, Liverpool, Catherine is both bright and Irish. In fact, she was just about running Ireland until the place went bung, although we can find no direct evidence that Catherine was directly responsible for the Emerald Isle’s spectacular decline. There was probably more than one involved, and most of them have fled to Spain.

Catherine is herself in Alexandra, and we are happy to take advantage of her considerable knowledge of the hospitality industry  and the media.

We are not sure what "the media" is, but Catherine has a degree in it. We’ll get her to explain one day.

In the meantime, she’s standing by in the office, hard at work at ... officework. We’ll get her to explain that too one day.

Alistair King, B. Com., B.G., N.Z.C.A.S., B.S., etc.

Accounts and Business

Alistair is the Numbers Man for Two Paddocks and is inordinately well qualified. He also owns the only tie within the Two Paddocks Organization, and here it is. We put it up for sale on the net, but no offers were forthcoming, so the tie still comes to work.

He is the principal of WHK,  a Wanaka firm. An Asian client called him a "wanaka" not long ago, but that was merely a linguistic confusion, and Alistair took it in good part.

Alistair has 20/20 vision, but wears glasses so that people take him more seriously. This hardly ever works.

Hana Deavoll

Communications and Social Media Consultant

Hana doesn’t just seem to be generationally different, she could be on another planet as far as the antiquated luddites hanging around HQ are concerned.

And just as well. Hana is dragging us not entirely unwillingly into the 21st century. We were quite comfortable in the 19th century, writing in an elegant copperplate in our leather bound ledgers, but it wasn’t good enough. Hana and Stu are seeing us right.

Now even the Proprietor is on Twitter and Facebook. This is rather like a man on a Pennyfarthing applying a jet motor to the back wheel – both dangerous and exhilarating.

Hana’s obvious youth and glamour belies the fact that she is educated (qualified teacher), well traveled (from Russia to Vietnam to US, etc.) and has wide work experience (especially in film).

She was NZ national snowboard champ, and could even race for Two Paddocks if Felicity wasn’t so snooty about snowboarding.

Like some other very fortunate women, is married to a bloke called Sam, and is mother of two.

Hana is a social media guru , along with her sister at socialmediasorted.com

Felicity Oxnevad

Ski Team Captain and Discipline

Felicity, another neighbour and friend of the proprietor, is not only our resident whiz with figures, she also runs our glamorous and wildly successful ski team. Two Paddocks has had two great seasons at Coronet Peak, and confidently expects to represent N.Z. at the next Olympics. Felicity, like Bridget, brings much needed glamour to T.P, and is good at getting us to keep our socks up. Has learnt to avoid pointing out to the proprietor the blatant noncommercial nature of the T.P. enterprise, as he would sooner not know. Much feared tennis player (serve recorded at 134 m.p.h.).

Cathy Scott

Webmaster

More glamour, and more brains than you can shake a stick at. Virtually helped Al Gore to invent the Internet. Film buff; knows more about the French New Wave than Cahiers du Cinema. Ubernerd aside, Cathy is an outdoors freak and is often found astride the tundra in far flung parts of the world. Has climbed 7 of the big 10. Often seen at Hollywood premieres in Yves St. Laurent. Has other computer duties, but none of us at T.P. can quite grasp what they are. Enjoys a large fan base.