Amisfield Wine Company appoints new winemaker

Amisfield Wine Company, internationally recognised for its quality Central Otago Pinot Noir, announces the appointment of Stephanie Lambert as its chief winemaker.

Thirty-four-year-old Lambert is well qualified for the role graduating from the University of Adelaide with a PH.D in Oenology in 2002. After three years gaining experience in all aspects of wine production in Australia, and time spent in both Oregon in the United States and Burgundy in France learning the trade, she was drawn back to New Zealand.

Initially she was employed at Sileni Estates in Hawkes Bay as assistant Pinot Noir winemaker followed by a year as the winemaker responsible for red wine production.

“But I always had a dream of making Pinot Noir under snow capped mountains and after working in vineyards around Central Otago I was fortunate enough, two years ago, to be appointed assistant winemaker at Amisfield. It is certainly a realisation of my dream to become the chief winemaker for this distinctive label.”

“Amisfield Pinot Noir has had a lot of success, particularly the 2008 vintage, and my vision is to build on what has already been achieved and continue to make top quality wines which are a reflection of the Lowburn vineyard,” she says. “The significant aspect of our vineyard is the consistency of our grapes which allows us to make consistent quality wine.”

Lambert says the “hands off” approach to winemaking at the company’s state-of-the-art wine production facility at Lowburn is an important feature of the winemaking process, focusing on the Amisfield concept of ”Grown Not Made.”

“This is so much in line with my own philosophy for making wines with integrity and purity from quality grapes. The standard of viticulture is extremely high and there is an incredible sense of place at Amisfield with the vineyards surrounding the winery and all the winery activity concentrated in one spot.”

Lambert predicts the Amisfield 2010 Pinot Noir will be “an amazing vintage.”

Amisfield Wine Company General Manager Fleur Caulton says Stephanie Lambert’s appointment as chief winemaker is an important milestone for the company.

“Stephanie has an excellent background in winemaking and a lot of passion for her work. We are fortunate to have someone of her calibre leading the winemaking team.”