CHURCH ROAD

OUR TEAM

Meet our team of winemakers at Church Road

Winemakers have to be artists, scientists and craftspeople – artists in developing a clear vision of what it is they want to create, scientists in figuring out what processes have to take place in the wine and craftsmen in applying the lessons from tradition and experience to make it happen. The Church Road winemaking team have all honed these skills at the winery, with the results showing through in every bottle.

CHRIS SCOTT, CHIEF WINEMAKER

A passion for wine led Chris Scott to Hawke’s Bay. He started his career at Church Road Winery in 1998 as a cellarhand, after previously working summer months at Fernhill and McDonald vineyards while studying for a degree in wine science. In 2005, Chris was appointed Senior Winemaker. His philosophy of executing traditional techniques to add depth of flavour and layers of texture to exceptional quality Hawke’s Bay fruit, stands him apart in creating award-winning wines full of character.

In 2013 and 2016, Chris Scott was awarded New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Winestate Magazine. In 2017, he was named Winemaker of Show at the New Zealand International Wine Show and was a finalist for Gourmet Traveller Wine New Zealand Winemaker of the Year in 2018.

VITICULTURIST GRAHAM BARTLEET

Graham has completed over twenty vintages, with most of these being in Hawke’s Bay, since completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Wine. He leads the small Church Road viticultural team in producing the best possible fruit quality and works closely with growers and vineyard managers alike to achieve this. Graham continues to be excited about the Hawke’s Bay as a wine region and the range of wine styles that excel here.