16 minute read
Labour Collaboration
from October - 2020
Vine to Wine
Turning seasonal work into full time employment
SOPHIE PREECE
A TRIO of Marlborough businesses are thinking outside the square and across the year, to help tackle seasonal labour issues. With border closures gutting traditional labour supplies, Ormond Nurseries, New Zealand Wineries and SLT have come up with a collaborative initiative that offers year-round work, via an intern scheme from vine to wine.
“This collaboration will help Kiwis affected by Covid,” says Kirsty Trolove, owner of Only Human HR and Recruitment. The successful interns will work May to November at Ormond Nurseries, learning about vine propagation, before spending December to February with SLT, being trained on machinery for vineyard operations. They will then do vintage with New Zealand Wineries from March to April, learning about winemaking on the job, says Kirsty. “The idea is that they will gain skills and experience throughout the year, then return back in a higher level position the following year.”
Ormond Nurseries owner Marcus Wickham says that’s a win-win for Kiwis looking for full time work, and for
companies who struggle to attract, train and retain workers for their busy seasons. “We can never afford to keep people doing nothing for four to five months.” The scheme will give interns an opportunity to learn a range of skills and make contacts across a range of industry sectors, while having the security of a full year’s work, he adds.
For New Zealand Wineries general manager Alistair McIntosh, the intern programme will be one of many tools engaged to prepare for vintage 2021, as Covid-19 induced border closures wipe out a large portion of the typical cellar
From left, Dan Campbell, Kirsty Trolove, Alistair McIntosh and Marcus Wickham
workforce. “The problem we have with advertising now for a job that is in March is that Kiwis won’t commit. And rightly so – I wouldn’t commit either. I would be looking for a full time job first.”
The vine to wine internship would give people security of consistent employment, while experiencing a broad range of wine industry work opportunities, says Dan Campbell from SLT, which uses cutting edge machinery in dozens of Marlborough vineyards. Dan started the intern conversation with Kirsty after the Alert Level 4 lockdown, knowing seasonal labour would be a headache for the wine industry while borders are closed, and recognising that Covid-related job losses were an increasing reality. “It was about giving Kiwis opportunities,” he says.
The two started looking at ways of aligning businesses to address both problems at once, says Kirsty “It was about brainstorming about who we could pull in with a similar people management culture and philosophy about providing all-year round work for their different seasons.” Culture was key, because the conversation has always been helping people affected by the pandemic, as well as helping the industry, she says. “These businesses are like-minded, and this was about community spirit as well. We knew there were people getting laid off and wondered ‘how can we provide some ongoing work for them, rather than seasonal short-term solutions?’”
The interns will have different contracts for each role, but there will be an understanding between the businesses regarding pay rates, sick leave and bereavement leave. “They are very open and flexible, and the result will be all the advantages of fulltime employment, with the added bonus of experiencing three different sectors of the industry,” says Kirsty. The project is evidence of what companies can do if they think outside the square, she adds. “This shows there is collaboration, and we are trying to attract Kiwis and do things differently.”
Beautiful Borough
Wine collaboration for community good
SOPHIE PREECE
THEY SAY it takes a village to raise a child, and in Marlborough it takes a Borough.
A collaborative community initiative has seen the emergence of the Borough wine label, with all profits going to the Graeme Dingle Foundation in Marlborough, which runs resilience and empowerment programmes in most of the region’s schools.
Borough is the brainchild of Geoff Matthews, who’s a board member on the Marlborough foundation and national operations director for Lion’s wine business. He says a new company - Socially Good Enterprises - has been established to produce Borough and donate all profits to the foundation. Everyone in the Borough supply chain - from grape growers to wineries, bottle suppliers to bottlers, designers to labellers, marketers to retailers - has given their time and product to support Marlborough’s community, he adds. “Everything apart from the website registration has been donated.”
The label photography is from Jim Tannock, who has captured some beloved, but lesser known, corners of the region. Geoff says the labels, from surfing at the Awatere River mouth to cycling up Mount Vernon, provide a unique view of Marlborough, and perfectly capture Borough’s community. “You see the Wairau Lagoons or the jetty at Little Ngakuta, and it’s like a secret space only we know, and really at the heart of Marlborough – and of Borough.”
The label’s 2020 vintage will be released next month, with 4,500 cases dominated by Sauvignon Blanc, but also including Pinot Gris and Rosé. Because of the complications of Covid-19, the fruit for the first vintage comes from a selection of Wither Hills growers, all of whom were keen to donate a chunk of their crop for charity, and the wine was made at the Wither Hills winery. But Geoff has spoken to several other growers and wineries, so that future years will have a wider range from a broader catchment of the industry, making Borough a wide network of foundation supporters, he says.
The 2020 vintage is expected to earn $200,000 to $250,000 for the Graeme Dingle Foundation in Marlborough, and that will grow year on year, says Geoff.
Label photography by Jim Tannock
“My vision is that this is something long-term that is really sustainable for the foundation. Once the brand is recognised and known as a top quality wine, people can purchase it like they do any other wine they might buy each week, and
know it’s going to a good cause.”
That’s music to the ears of Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough regional manager Kelvin Watt, who says the foundation needs around $700,000 a year in order to meet the demand from schools, with nearly 60% of that from fundraising and sponsorship. “And we’re 99% funded by Marlborough,” he says. Almost 60% of Marlborough primary school children are included in the foundation’s Kiwi Can programme, learning resilience, self-belief and life skills from mentors. Every Year 9 student at Marlborough Girls’ College is part of the Stars programme, along with 65 of the school’s senior students, while Career Navigator is at all three of Marlborough’s colleges, helping students canvas their
options for future work and life choices. Nearly half of all Marlborough’s school students are involved in one of the programmes rolled out by the foundation, says Kelvin, noting that the saturation is far greater in Marlborough than that of any other region in New Zealand.
In the past Dazzle – a fundraising event held at Wither Hills – has been a major part of keeping the foundation running, says Geoff. “But with Covid-19, this time around it looked like it would be a bit of a struggle to get it off the ground. I knew there had to be an easier way.”
He loves that the fundraiser allows more people to get behind an effort they believe in. “This is a community driven label funding a community-good initiative. And the support we’ve had so far is a pretty amazing reflection of our Marlborough – and Borough - community.”
KNOW HOW YOUR TANKS STAND UP TO SEISMIC MOVEMENT
Tygr Eye is a fully integrated monitoring system that activates with seismic movement. It can be attached to any liquid storage tank to give you and your stakeholders accurate data on the impact of a seismic event on these valuable assets.
Don’t wait for the next shake. Protect product and profit by contacting us today.
8774753653
ONGUARDGROUP.COM
Story Teller
Wine show key to sharing Marlborough’s success
SOPHIE PREECE
THE MARLBOROUGH Wine Show is opportunity to connect with “global adorers” of the region’s wine, with stories of diversity, provenance and pedigree, says Chief Judge Ben Glover.
“We need to tell our story outside the region, using tools like the Marlborough Wine Show and Appellation Marlborough Wine, which celebrate the extraordinary wines of our turangawaewae,” says the winemaker. “We cannot rely on anyone else to do it for us.”
There are 541 entries in the 2020 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, including 23 entries in the Marlborough Museum Legacy award, which scores three vintages within a ten-year period.
Ben says the category shows Marlborough is far more than an 18-month one-trick-pony, but a region of diverse varieties, subregions and wine styles, that produces wines of integrity and longevity. “The Legacy Award is a key part of Marlborough, and a really great way of showing all your peers how the wines age.” Meanwhile, the Provenance Award, which awards single vineyard wines in any class, celebrates the places that make the region extraordinary.
Ben took on the Chief Judge role this year and says he’s excited to see and celebrate the wines coming through, with 2019 and 2020 the “best twin years we’ve had in a long time”. He will be joined by 12 senior judges, including guest judges Sophie Parker-Thomson and New Zealand Master of Wine, Emma Jenkins, along with four associate judges. Ben says the show’s value is not only in highlighting wines of excellence from the region, but also in bringing through a new generation of judges and stewards, and bringing the wine community together at the Marlborough Wine Show Celebration lunch.
With the New Zealand Wine of the Year Awards cancelled due to Covid-19, it was even more important to
have a show that rewards the region’s success stories, he says. “I think as a region we have to take it on ourselves to make ourselves the best we can be.” That’s particularly important for the small and medium New Zealand-owned companies without big promotional budgets, says Ben. “They are often Jacks of all trades, but they also bring backbone and depth to the story of Marlborough. The Marlborough Wine Show is a valuable conduit to take their wines to the world.”
Subregional focus The Marlborough Wine Show’s subregional view appeals greatly to guest judge Sophie Parker-Thomson, who loves the natural diversity of the region’s offering. Sophie, who is a Master of Wine student in the final stage of the programme, says subregional subtleties are an important aspect of Marlborough’s evolution, as people look for more detail in wines from the region. “It is tied in an integral way to the soil types we have and that is what makes Marlborough very special.” The co-owner of Blank Canvas Wines was the Marlborough contributor to the eighth edition of The World Wine Atlas, which included a map of Marlborough soil types, to better expose styles, varieties and sub regions. “We are one of the few regions that can boast having some of the oldest soils in the country and some of the youngest soils in the country,” she says, talking of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc thriving on the young alluvial soils of the valley, while the hillside Pinot Noir and Chardonnay shine on the old and low vigour clay soils seen in the Southern Valleys, for example. Then there is the Awatere Valley with “a complete matrix” of soils, she says, “which is why we see such a mixture of varieties emanating from the Awatere”.
An outstanding 2020 vintage Summer’s hot days and cool nights produced some outstanding Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs from the 2020 harvest, say members of Appellation Marlborough Wine.
Fruit quality from the vintage was the best winemaker Dave Clouston from Two Rivers had seen for more than 10 years. “It was outstanding… A prolonged Indian summer with cool nights led to expressive wines with great natural acidity. The season produced pristine fruit with ripe concentrated flavours. We have never been more excited and more proud to release an Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW).”
Cloudy Bay’s Jim White says the 2020 vintage was memorable because of what wineries went through to make it happen, with stringent Covid-19 rules in place including rigorous social distancing. Despite that, 2020 is one of Cloudy Bay’s best vintages. “Mother Nature gave us incredible conditions in the vineyards throughout the year and the fruit that came into the winery was as perfect as we could have wanted,” he says. “The Sauvignon Blanc shows a remarkable balance and refined acidity alongside the vibrant fruit qualities that we always want to see.” Whitehaven’s chief winemaker Peter Jackson described the company’s Sauvignon Blancs as being “classical examples”, thanks to a textbook run into harvest with plenty of sunshine. “The resulting wines bristle with energy, purity and precision.”
Ivan Sutherland, owner of Dog Point Vineyards and chair of AMW, says the brand mark is now trademarked in all major wine consuming countries, with “very favourable support” from wine writers and the trade, and “the general comment being ‘why has it taken so Jim White long?’”.
WE’RE SEEKI GROWER GN S!
Invivo & Co is looking for new grower partners and vineyard lease opportunities in Marlborough and the Hawke ’ s Bay!
You will play a part in producing wine for our Invivo, Graham Norton wine and Invivo X, Sarah Jessica Parker wine brands!
We ’ re an easy-going bunch and pay good rates forfor qualityquality fruitfruit w withith favourable terms. You will have local contacts to liaise with all year round about viticulture. We ’ re looking for Sauvignon Blanc but will look at other varieties too.
WE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER SO GREAT THINGS HAPPEN Email Invivo & Co Winemaker and Cofounder Rob Cameron for a conversation at
vineyards@invivowines.com
Lab Network
The lowdown on lab work
THE MARLBOROUGH Lab Network is holding its first seminar and trade fair on November 13, with a full laboratory focus. Pernod Ricard Winemakers viticulture planning coordinator Alyssa Beatty says the network began in 2016 with a handful of members who wanted to promote networking and knowledge sharing in Marlborough’s wine and beverage industry. Four years on, they have 50 members, and provide a valuable tool for problem solving, with members able to discuss specific topics they are having issues with, from cold stability to microbiology.
The seminar and trade fair has been “a long time in the making”, with the original plan for a June 2020 event delayed by Covid-19, says Alyssa. That event would have been bigger, with guests flying in from Australia, but they have pulled back to a Marlborough focus, she says. “We are really pleased we can make this a success.”
Alyssa says the network has been a valuable resource during Covid, particularly throughout the challenges of the 2020 vintage, and will be important in the lead-up to vintage 2021 as winery labs look to source the people they need with borders closed. Labs are “very reliant” on visiting international workers, with even small wineries bringing in at least one seasonal worker, and companies like Pernod Ricard Winemakers are working hard to attract more people to the industry for vintage 2021, including for lab roles, Alyssa says.
She has a background in food science, and while doing her master’s also took on some wine appreciation courses. She blended the two when she started doing vintage lab work, and considers herself “really lucky” to have fallen into a field she loves and values. “It’s really important because we provide all the information that makes it possible for
Photo Richard Briggs
winemakers to make their decision - all the analysis that is necessary,” she says. “Providing accurate and timely information keeps vintage running smoothly.” The Marlborough Lab Network event will include speakers, a trade exhibition by key laboratory suppliers, as well as networking opportunities. For more information go to linkedin.com/company/mln-marlborough-lab-network/
Focus on Pruning
With no Silver Secateurs competition in Marlborough this year, one viticultural contracting company decided to run its own in-house event. Focus Labour Solutions Ltd put up nearly $3,000 in prizes for its workforce, who are mostly Recognised Seasonal Employee scheme workers from Vanuatu, Kiribati, and Tuvalu.
Co-owner Craig Mill says the workers look forward to testing themselves at the Silver Secateurs every year. So when Covid-19 cancelled this year’s event, the company decided to run its own, to celebrate the end of the pruning season. In mid-September, multiple vanloads of Focus staff descended on the Omaka Valley property of Philippa and Brendon Burns, which Craig leases. “It was ideal as it’s a small block growing Sauvignon and it has a nice slope which enabled those who weren’t taking part to watch the competition and support all the contestants.”
The highlight of the day was the team event, with teams of nine taking on two whole rows. Each team had three cutters, three strippers and three wrappers and they had to work with just one person per bay, says Craig. “It was a lot of fun to watch from the bottom of the hill. Everyone had a great time and we followed it the next day with our BBQ for the end of pruning and the overdue end of harvest celebration and prize giving.” PCL AD Winepress 2016.pdf 1 15/07/16 3:21 PM Vanuatu’s Alice Sel took three titles as best Individual
James Bule in action
Experienced Wrapper, the individual female prize and overall best from her country, though each Pacific nation was well represented among the prize winners. Focus is now planning to run the competition every year, says Craig. “It’s one of the few ways we can recognise what several thousand people do in Marlborough for five months every year.”
PROVINCIAL
COLDSTORES LIMITED
Let us take care of all your controlled Temperature storage requirements: ◆ Custom controlled area ◆ Approved Transitional Facility for unloading of Imported Containers
◆ Over 60,000 cubic metres of storage spread over two sites. ◆ Chilled storage available during vintage for handpicked grapes. ◆ Sophisticated monitoring equipment ensures your product is kept at the optimum temperature. ◆ We could lease you a small room for your exclusive use to suit your particular temperature requirements (0o C to + 30o C). ◆ We store bottled wine, barrels of wine and new plants awaiting the opportune time to plant. ◆ Individual rooms available to grow new budwood. “the coolest place inMarlborough”
Old Renwick Road, Blenheim Tel: 03 578 2648 Fax: 03 578 2546 www.provincialcoldstores.co.nz Gouland Road, Spring Creek. Tel: 03 570 5944 Fax: 03 570 5955
PHOENIX MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Warm and Chilled Glycol Systems Design & Build Mechanical Services Heat Recovery Systems S/S Wine and Juice Lines Water Treatment and Filtration 021 177 2669
“Over 15 years experience serving the Marlborough wine industry” WWW.PHOENIXMECHANICAL.CO.NZ
