The fourth ‘Who’s that girl?’ interview in an occasional series – questions from Libby this time.

Born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1985 Meg is the eldest daughter in the Forrest-Waghorn family.

Where do you fit within the Durvillea family?: Well, I’m the eldest of the Forrest-Waghorn girls. In terms of Durvillea I’ve mainly been in charge of setting up and maintaining our social networking sites – particularly this blog. Along with Libby, Bella, and the Astrolabe team I’ve had some input into the design and development discussions.

 What is your favourite part of being involved with the brand?: I really like the way I can legitimately spend lots of time on the internet! It’s also nice to be able to find a place for some of my skills in the family industry. I have also come to appreciate all the different skill areas we have in the family and business.

 How would you describe the Durvillea range?: Approachable and affordable wines that don’t sacrifice quality and integrity. I also think we have a great back-story and a classy, identifiably New Zealand label.

 Do you have a favourite amongst them?: Normally I’m a dry riesling fan but I’m really falling back in love with Sauvignon Blanc as a result of my Durvillea involvement. In the face of some uncertainty about the future for Marlborough Sav Blanc it’s great to see our wine still getting a great reception as a quality example of the variety.

Libby, Arabella and Meg. Gisborne, c.1993.

 What was the best thing about growing up in the wine industry?: Well, as Libby has said, wineries are reasonably entertaining places to play and vintage is always an exciting time. The wine industry is great as it is so seasonal; it keeps you in touch with nature in a way. Another nice thing about the industry is the types of people who are drawn to it, people who care about hospitality and the finer things in life in general.

 You live in Wellington, what do you do there?: I moved to Wellington to study in 2004. I’ve been working at Wellington City Libraries for several years now. Librarianship (although I’m not a qualified librarian) is another ‘family industry’, Ma [Jane] is a trained librarian and that’s been at least as influential as the wine stuff! I’m also working towards a Masters degree in New Zealand Literature.

Client relationship manager Sophie McLernon, and Meg. Te Kauwhata, circa 1987.

 What would your ‘perfect day’ in Wellington be? Any tips for visitors?: On a fine day a stroll around the city waterfront accompanied by Café Eis gelato and a lovely Wellington soundtrack by the excellent Phoenix Foundation. On a wilder day I love the south coast. I also like to show visitors around my lovely home suburb of Newtown which has a surprising amount of great food and coffee options and cute little stores. For visiting tips I recommend the expert advice of the Wellingtonistas.

 How about at home in Blenheim?: The absolute best place to eat in Blenheim is the cramped but cosy Cruizie’s café on Maxwell Road in town. I love their chicken stuffing sandwiches more than I can say. On a summer’s evening the Craiglockhart River in the Waihopai Valley is a lovely place to swim and you get a good look at the famous spy balls on the way there.

Durvillea SB as the recommended wine on the Ichi Ni wine list, Melbourne

We started off in Sydney where we met with Shane and James, from Lewis Fine Wines. We had a lovely lunch at Pendolino, and it was a great chance to get to meet them and to get a feel for the market over there. Just by chance it turned out that our Israeli and Hong Kong Astrolabe distributors both lived in Sydney, and neither Jason and I had had a chance to meet them before, so we were able to meet up with them to discuss their respective markets. We now have plans to send Durvillea into Israel, hopefully by Christmas.

Neil, the restaurant Manager and I at Paesano's, Knox City, Melbourne

Next stop was Melbourne where we met with Ian, Andrea and Sarina from Twelve Bottles, they have been doing a fantastic job, and it was great to get a chance to see them in action.

While things have been tough with the recession it looks like things are finally starting to pick up over there.

We ate at some great places that sold our wine, such as Paesanos in Knox City, an Italian family  restuarant, where Frank’s mum still cooks in the kitchen!

Jason, Ian and I with two of the staff at Ichi Ni, St Kilda, Melbourne

Another winner was Ichi Ni, in St Kilda, fabulous Japanese tapas, especially the Wagyu Beef and the soft shell crab California roll. The soft shell crab was fanastic with our Sauvignon, it was also great to look round and see other people drinking our wine.

Then off to the Barossa, after a very early morning flight we arrived into a very windy and warm Adelaide (the place where Meg was born). We hired a car and made our way through the beautiful country side to meet with Kym, Dave and Michael from Teusner Wines. The plan is for our Brisbane distriubutors Smashing Bottles to expand into SA, possibly enlisiting the help of Kym and Dave.  The Barossa is a beautiful place, with the oldest vines I have ever seen, a complete contrast to the young Marlborough vines I am used to.

Kym talking to Jason about the Grenache bush vines

After a great lunch at Wanera with Kym and Dave and a bottle of their Avatar wine, Kym offered to play tour guide, taking us around the Barossa country side, showing us his different blocks, from bush vine Grenache to Mataro.We were also lucky enough to join the boys in their Burgundy tasting they were doing that afternoon.

We are off to Brisbane tomorrow to meet with Kris and Paul from Smashing Bottles.  But before I go I must fill you on on one of the highlights of this week,  Jason and I’s return trip to Adelaide today. Deciding we needed to get some more photos of the gnarly 130+ year old vines we veered off the highway in search of some, finally finding some on one of the dirt roads of the Barossa. Unfortunately on entering one of the drive ways we felt the car sink down into the mud.

We hear there was a lot of rain there last week…..

Fraser, the only other Kiwi we met in the Barossa managed to lend a hand

PART ONE HERE

Sunday 30th August – It is pouring with rain here and I have just been down to visit the chickens. Wet chickens look very dismal. They were hoping I would open the gate. So now they are huddled in the coop looking very disappointed with life.

After my saga with Hillary and Roger I was a little shattered and the flock was depleted to 2 remaining hens, Winnie and Dot. However Barb Sutton came to the rescue.

Now Barb is really a legend in her own time. Barb is proprietor of Birchmore Farm at Blind River and is the purveyor of a variety of farm produced goods at the local farmer’s market. After asking her where she bought her chickens from she turned up with 3 lovely ladies in cardboard boxes. Bess, black, beautiful and the leader of the pack. She was named after the black haired daughter in the poem “The Highwayman”. May, (Mayflower) the barred Plymouth Rock and Hettie, small, red and by far the smartest of all the hens. However as the mother of 3 redheads I firmly believe that this is not a coincidence.

So the girls established themselves and I decided that there was room for more. Egg megalomania. I wanted more. Also for some extraordinary reason I love chickens. So I bought 2 baby wyandottes, Mihipeka and Fran, and a very beautiful little black silkie. Now silkie’s have a ridiculous topnot that looks very much like a Russian ladies fur hat, think Dr Zhivago. I was tempted to call her Anna from Anna Karenina but Antionette she became. She was very sweet but definitely the odd one out. I was concerned about how she would fit in with the others who are all large bodied hens. Hens are not into individuality. Obviously this concerned her too as she drowned herself in the pond. I suspect she dipped her head in and the weight of the water in that fabulous topknot was her undoing. I was devastated and feeling that the trials of chicken keeping were just too much much. However the needs of the survivors meant I had to keep going.

I kept Fran and Mihipeka separate for 2 months and integrated them slowly with the others. Carefully lifting them as they roosted into the hen house. The pecking order establishment thing is an unpleasant process.

Daily I let the hens out to free range and one day I came home to find May ripped to bits in the olive grove. She had been killed by a dog and while I don’t have an eye witness account I suspect “Basil” a Jack Russell who sometimes roams to our vineyard. I am not fond of dogs especially small chicken killing dogs.

So now I am down to my fabulous five. Egg production is up. They spend more time penned to protect them but it is roomy. I plan to add some girls soon.

Sunday 6th September: I began this post a week ago and the weather this weekend was fantastic. I have spent the weekend in the garden. Today I picked 2 spears of asparagus the perfect accompaniment to a poached egg. Winter has passed, spring is here and life is good down on the farm.

- Jane.

However as it is the beginning of spring and the growing season I thought it would be a good idea to give you an update of what is going on in the vines. Jeremy Hyland is our viticulturist and has worked along side Simon since their Gisborne days, coming up almost 20 years!

This is an update from Jeremy as to what is going on in our vineyards.

The last of the pruned vines will be wrapped down in the coming days bringing to an end what is our most labour intensive practice for the year. Unfortunately it is also the coldest period for our committed crews out in the field it has been a long four months. As they finish laying the foundation for the coming season on some of the later varietals, the early blocks of Pinot have the first buds bursting into life after what has been the warmest August since records began and so a new growing season begins.

Astrolabe farm this morning, pruned and frosty

 Jack Frost is definitely an unwanted guest from here on in. Other action in the field at present includes mulching of prunings, dropping of foliage wires, compost spreading, fert applications, weed control, trellis maintenance, any replanting, irrigation maintenance and in most cases getting the sheep out of the vineyard!

So thats a wee update from the vineyard, as Jason and I are away next week, Jane will be looking after the office, and updating you with whats going on.

Afternoon tea at Astrolabe Farm

The 2009 Durvillea Pinot Grigio was bottled on Monday, after worrying that the labels weren’t going to make it in time, we managed to get them flown down from Auckland for the 7.30am bottling! Lucky for me it’s the winemaker’s job to taste the wine off, so Tim was down there bright and early making sure it was all going to plan.

With the new vintage we have changed the labels so we can distinguish between the different varieties, the most common complaint from the 2008 vintage was that people couldn’t tell the varieties apart. So watch this space for the new labels, and the back label – my favourite part.

The rest of the week has felt rather rushed as it is another short week, I met up with Jules (@winewanker) on Tuesday at the Liquorland Top 100 competition where he has been stewarding, it was great to finally meet him after all the tweeting! We didn’t enter Durvillea into that competition, but I have been busy entering a few others, such as the Sydney International Wine Competition, and a few other national ones. So we are looking forward to the results.

In the vineyards all is going well, Jeremy the viticulturist has been looking after the growers, and organising all of the pruning, most of our growers are almost all done now.  This vintage in particular the pruning and vineyard management is going to be one of the most important ways to control the size of the crop, to make sure we don’t over produce. This was one of the most important messages that seemed to come out of Bragato, Marlborough in particular needs to make sure we don’t over crop and repeat the mistake of 2008; producing too much wine with out route to market .

Anyway better go, have just got home to Christchurch for the night, as I am off to Queenstown for the next four days on holiday, hopefully the weather will let us get some skiing in,

- Sophie

So home and one of my first jobs was to check on the chickens. They are starting to lay again and  my two young ones for the first time. Now, I currently have 5 chickens. Three are Wyandottes, one red, one black. Beautiful but not the best layers.

Cautionary tale No1: if you want a reliable supply get Brown Shavers.

My chicken keeping began in an impetuous way. I was at dinner with friends when one, Lorraine, asked if anyone wanted a rooster. She had one that was being picked on and was in emergency housing until a new home could be found. I said I would have him. So Roger arrived to live in the dog run.

I loved Roger. He was beautiful and benign. At least I thought so.

Cautionary Tale No2: don’t judge a rooster by his tail feathers.

Roger in the olive grove

Next, Pete, an old chap at the gym, offered me some girlfriends for Roger and so I inherited 3 beautiful but aging golden laced wyandottes, Winnie, Dot and Hillary. Unfortunately Roger just couldn’t cope and began to attack Hillary. He become, I am sorry to relate, a sexual maniac. He attacked Hillary so badly she was almost dead. The chicken house looked like a scene from a horror movie . So it was obvious that poor old Hiliary needed to be put out of her misery. So I took the axe shaking, but just as I raised the axe, telling myself I had to do it, my sister grabbed the axe and did it for me. You see I had just had my hip replaced and in those early days there is a chance that you could dislocate with bending. I don’t think swinging an axe is recommended.

Winnie, Dot and Hillary

Cautionary tale No 3: It’s not all eggs, and fluffy chicks keeping chickens. You need someone who will dispatch the chickens (ie. a chicken executioner).

So now Roger was back in the dog kennel in isolation and despite my best efforts at rehabilitation he continued unrepentant to attack the remaining girls. So with the help of Sophie a contract was placed on his head and a young man from another winery did the deed.

Cautionary tale No4: stay on the right side of Sophie

That’s all for part one, sorry it’s been a bit grim! I’ll be back soon with part two and more tales of life, death, and free-ranging.

- Jane.

Things have actually been very busy, and I have only had a day and a half there this week. Not enough it seems! I flew up to Auckland last Friday, and my dear cousin Bella and I did a tasting at Caro’s on Saturday. While it was an Astrolabe tasting we did manage to open a bottle of Durvillea, to which we had great response. John said it was one of their busiest days this year – on par with Christmas apparently!

Then Monday night we had an Astrolabe dinner for the Auckland restauranteurs who have been stocking our wine to say thanks. We had it at a great Japanese restaurant called Soto. Great food matches for the wine!

Some of the team at Soto

Then back to the office. Slightly sobering, and many emails to come back to! However I did manage to sign off the Durvillea banners that you will start to see around when we do tastings. And print off some shelf talkers to send to some of our retailers- they are on their way guys!

On a slightly different but exciting note – I was contacted by a guy from the ship l’Astrolabe (named after Dumont D’Urville’s ship just like us). They are on a mission repairing huts in Antarctica and want to take some Astrolabe wine because of the name connection. I’m going to try and get them to take some Durvillea as well (since it’s named after the seaweed Durvillea Antarctica).

And now I’m in Hawkes Bay, still flat out! And running a virtual office from up here, working well so far. Jason is over in Europe, basing himself in Holland, although he was in Copenhagan the last couple of days. Est wines in Denmark who already take Astrolabe have just decided to take Durvillea in their next shipment, which is great news. He is off to see the SAS next, who already have our savvy on their inflight wine list.

Jane and Simon are in Hamilton, in fact Jane just did a Durvillea tasting at Te Rapa New World today, so I might go call her, want to hear how it went. … I’ll be back next week to let you know what else has been going on in the Durvillea/Astrolabe office.

- Sophie.

The third ‘Who’s that girl?’ interview in an occasional series – questions and write up from Meg.

Born in Te Kauwhata/Huntly in 1987 Libby is the middle daughter in the Forrest-Waghorn family. Now living in Australia she represents the Queensland ‘branch’ of Durvillea. You’ll hear from Libby on our facebook page, this blog and she tweets the occasional update from Oz via our twitter account (@durvilleawines).

What is your role at Durvillea?: As the middle Waghorn daughter, I have so far been involved in the brand development and social marketing aspects of Durvillea. Also, living in Brisbane, I do a bit of pro bono work putting in a good word for the wine to anyone and everyone I meet over here. Inevitably, my role has included a bit of ‘product sampling’ as well. Tough job.

Perhaps why Libby lives in Queensland?

What are your other jobs?: Here in Brisbane, I work part time in a wine shop (Vintage Cellars in Indooroopilly for any Brisbanites who want to pop in and say hello), as well as working a few hours a week as a volunteer law clerk at the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service, which I love. At home in Blenheim during the summer holidays I can usually be found in the vineyard at Astrolabe Farm earning some pocket money wire-lifting and leaf plucking.

Libby & Meg plunging some pinot c.1996

How about some Brisbane highlights?: I really like the South Bank cultural precinct for a wander through the galleries, or the New Farm markets on a sunny Saturday morning.

What’s your favourite wine?: Being a student, wine I buy has to be affordable. Lately, I’ve been drinking a bit of German riesling; the Dr Loosen Villa Wolf Dry Riesling 2006 is one of my current favourites and is only about $15.

Who would you recommend Durvillea wines to? I think Durvillea wines are great for younger people becoming more familiar with drinking wine and who want to branch out from the entry-level big name brands, or for any one who hasn’t got a huge budget but wants to drink a quality wine with a bit of class.

Blossom and olives by Nicola McLernon

Now, Meg normally writes these blogs but in attempt to let her focus on her Masters I have been given Monday mornings to fill you in on what is happening here on Astrolabe Farm. Astrolabe Farm is our home, vineyard, olive grove and gardens. It is the home to Astrolabe and Durvillea as well. Most of all it is where we live and it my responsibility to look after the property.

I don’t do this alone. Nick Taylor looks after the vineyard and olive grove and helps me with the big work in the garden. I love working on this property and the plan is that I should spend about half my week here. However this in not a 9-5 lifestyle. Work is dictated by the season. Right now Nick has finished pruning and there is vineyard maintenance to do and then olive pruning. The vineyard is about 4ha and we have three varieties: riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir. You can try them in Astrolabe’s Grovetown Riesling and Noble Riesling , Chardonnay and a small portion of the Pinot Noir.

Spring has come to the garden. The rhododendrons, camellias and daffodils are out. The plums are in full blossom and apricots just about out.I have bought the seed potatoes and laid them for sprouting. I need about a week in the garden to prevent the weeds getting away and seeds in. No luck this weekend as it is wet. However, this also has to happen around sales trips at this time of year, and the everyday office work.

Pruned Olive trees - photo Nicola McLernon

This morning I was packing to go to Auckland and I heard a an unusual bird call outside. The tui are back as the kowhai is flowering. Marlborough has few native birds in the valley and it is encouraging to have this pair living here. We have a pond on the farm which has been re-established with native plantings. Together with the large number of trees in the gardens and around the house this means that we are hopeful that tui will remain resident. Over winter we have had a white heron which often could often be seen on the pond.

In fact birds feature quite strongly here. Last autumn a pair of ornamental pheasants turned up. The male was ridiculously showy and has not been seen for some time. I suspect he had his comeuppance for being so flambouyant as I found tail feathers on the driveway. However Widow Pheasant is still to be seen pottering about in her suitably subdued colours. The hawks patrol the vineyard and olive grove daily and of there is a resident colony of Californian Quail in the hedgerows.

Planting garlic

However, most dear to my heart are my chickens but they are really a story in themselves. So welcome to Astrolabe Farm and next week it’s time for my Chicken Tales (a saga of feathers and fertility) ……..

- Jane

The second ‘Who’s that girl?’ interview in an occasional series – questions and write up from Meg.

Jane Forrest really is the person at the heart of the Durvillea story. She is wife to Simon Waghorn (winemaker) and mother to Arabella, Libby and Meg. Jane is also a director of Astrolabe Wines and a multi-tasking machine who works in the office, out on sales trips, and among the vines, garden and olive grove at Astrolabe Farm.

What is your role at Durvillea?: I am responsible for leading the brand into the marketplace. That means I am involved in decisions right through from production to sales. However it is not me alone; the unique thing is way my daughters Meg, Libby and Arabella and my niece Sophie are also involved. This is a blend of family and business. Durvillea works from within Astrolabe, we refer to it as Astrolabe’s little sister. The relationship is strong but the brands are separate.

How did you come to be involved in the wine industry?: I married in! Simon Waghorn, our wine maker, and I met at university. We have been together for almost thirty years. As Astrolabe grew I became more involved on a daily basis and for the last four years I have worked in the office, with marketing, entertaining guests and clients and just about anything else that needs doing. We are a small team. For the last four years we have lived at Astrolabe Farm which means that I am also involved in grape growing. Durvillea has given me the opportunity to step forward and lead my own project. It is very exciting.

What’s the best part of the industry?: I think the spirit of hospitality that underlies why we make and sell wine. It is a great thing to share and enjoy food and wine . It is something that is intrinsic to the way I grew up and they way we live. It also brings you in contact with lots of interesting and wonderful people.

What about the worst part?: When my children were small it was the long hours of vintage. Now, for me it is the double edged sword of family and business being so closely linked that it’s hard not be thinking and talking about work all the time.

What are some other jobs you’ve had?: I was a librarian and most recently the Children’s Librarian at the Marlborough District Library. I studied librarianship while Simon was at Roseworthy [Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia – where Simon studied oenology. Meg]. I am also a qualified teacher and loved being a new entrant teacher. I have also taught ante-natal classes and worked for Family Planning as an educator.

Where’s the best place your work has taken you?: The Marsh’s Library in Dublin. Dublin is our largest export market. The Marsh Library is in the close of St Patrick’s Cathedral is a hidden gem. Closely followed by the New York Public Library!

What do you like about living in Marlborough?: The wonderful light.

Where would you take a visitor to Marlborough?: A picnic in the olive grove here at Astrolabe Farm is always good. Mind you a tour around the coloured fountain in Seymour Square is also a family favourite. More seriously, if we are taking people out for dinner we usually go to Hotel D’Urville. However for more casual family dinners we often go to Dodson’s for pizza.

What’s your favourite wine varietal?: It depends on the weather. I am a seasonal creature. Give me Pinot or Chardonnay with fires and casseroles but now there is a hint of spring in the air I am looking forward to the asparagus coming up in my garden. In anticipation I am drinking Sauvignon Blanc.

What has been your favourite thing so far about your involvement with Durvillea?: Working with my girls.

Who would you recommend Durvillea to?: Everyone. I picture Durvillea as wine at a price point that makes it accessible to share with friends. A bottle to put in the supermarket trolley when you are shopping for dinner.

If you were to describe the Durvillea Sauvignon Blanc in one sentence what would you say?: Great value, over-delivering on quality, with a fabulous label.