THE FAMILY
ANDREW SUTHERLAND
Project Manager & Farmer
Andy is a fifth generation farmer from the South Wairarapa. He purchased the family sheep, beef and cropping farm with his wife Elaine in 1981. They later owned and farmed dairy cows before purchasing Southdown, a deer farm six kilometres southeast of the Martinborough township. Andy’s strengths lay in earth moving (contouring the land), livestock farming, property development and generally making things happen. He can usually be found on the quad bike with his dogs, Bing and Rigby, shifting sheep and cattle; in his truck carting grapes or topsoil, or sitting on his digger or D9 bulldozer shifting stuff!
| CONTACT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone | +64 (6)306 9400 | |
| Mobile | +62 (0)274 747048 | |
| sutherlandandrew@xtra.co.nz |
ELAINE SUTHERLAND
Business & Marketing Manager
Elaine has been involved in the farming industry all her life, having grown up on a farm. She has managed the financial side of their joint farming, earth moving contracting and property development businesses since 1981. Elaine also worked in the banking sector and held positions as Office Manager and Accounts Administrator for two other companies during this time.
Andy & Elaine’s three adult daughters, Carolyn, Sarah and Charlotte have all finished university study and left home to pursue their own careers, but are still involved in the family vineyard in one way or another.
When it comes to office work, Elaine runs the show. If it needs to be done, she is the one to do it, usually with her trusted friend Milly (the Jack Russell) in tow. She can also be found on the ride-on mower keeping the common areas tidy, when she isn’t looking after her grandchildren.
Elaine loves to travel and can always find a reason why she and a family member should be exploring different parts of the world. Marketing Southdown wine now gives her the perfect reason to travel.
| CONTACT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone | +64 (6)306 9400 | |
| Mobile | +64 (0)274 483813 | |
| southdown@xtra.co.nz |
PHILL MCARTHUR
Consultant Winemaker
Phill is married to Carolyn (Andy & Elaine’s eldest daughter) and they live on the vineyard in a house they relocated and renovated which continues to be an on-going project. Phill is a winemaker at a well-known winery in Martinborough and is happy to share his knowledge in helping the family create their own superb wines.
Phill and Carolyn are busy bringing up a family but if Phill has any spare time and he isn’t brewing beer, he can be found in one of the local rivers or at his family’s beach house hoping to catch a fish or swing his golf clubs.
| CONTACT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | +64 (0)21 038 4518 | |
| pcmcarthur@xtra.co.nz |
SARAH SUTHERLAND
Graphic Designer
Sarah is the second daughter of Andy and Elaine and is currently residing in London. She graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Design. Sarah has worked in the design profession in Wellington and New Plymouth before heading overseas with her partner Ryan.
Sarah has been there from the beginning helping to design the Southdown logo and the follow on of signs, marketing materials and company stationery. Always close at hand via the internet, Sarah and Elaine are often discussing ideas for the next design project.
IN THE VINEYARD
NICK HOSKINS
Consultant Viticulturist & Managing Director of Vine Managers
Nick Hoskins has strong roots in the New Zealand wine industry. A familiar figure in all key regions of the country, Nick maintains a home base in Masterton, from which he operates his consultancy and vineyard management services.
In 2005 Nick formed Vine Managers which is a family owned and operated business offering quality viticulture management and machinery operations to a number of vineyards in the Martinborough area.
Nothing ever seems too much trouble for Nick and he is seldom seen flustered even with the pressures of harvest time and the logistics of co-ordinating harvesters, trucks, and nets which all seem to need to come off at the same time!
Nick is usually accompanied on his visits to the vineyard by Kira, his fluffy canine who looks like Hairy Maclary, trailing behind.
| CONTACT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone | +64 (6)377 2412 | |
| Mobile | +64 (0)272 487724 | |
| nick@vinemanagers.co.nz | ||
| Website | www.vinemanagers.co.nz |
MATT GRIFFITH
Vineyard Manager
Matt joined Vine Managers in 2005 and is son-law to Nick. Matt is a qualified mechanic and was looking for a career change and a move to outdoor work. He has and continues to manage Vine Managers’ biggest operation at Southdown Estate since it was first planted.
Matt excels at the logistics of managing a large vineyard and ensuring contractors and staff complete jobs on time, to specification and within budget
Matt enjoys the challenge of producing a crop every year and contending with the constantly changing factors of weather, budgets and winemaker requirements. He’s also keenly interested in the effects of soil types on vine health and fruit production and on ways to improve soil health.
Matt very seldom arrives to work alone, with Patch the ‘not so happy’ Fox Terrier coming along for the ride and then spending the rest of the day barking at anything and everything that comes past the staff room.
| CONTACT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | +64 (0)272 916129 | |
| matt@vinemanagers.co.nz | ||
| Website | www.vinemanagers.co.nz |
