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Staff Profiles
Nick Hoskins, Viticulturist and General Manager
Janmarie Hoskins, Director and Accounts
Jasmine Griffith, Director, Admin and Wages
Matt Griffith, Vineyard Manager Southdown
Rowan Hoskins, Vineyard Manager Redbank Estates
Nick Hoskins, Viticulturist and General Manager
Nick is a familiar figure in every key grape-growing region of the country and one of New Zealand’s most respected viticulturists.
Early in his career, he worked in a variety of horticultural sectors, but it didn’t take long before viticulture became not only his speciality but an abiding passion.
“I love the completeness of starting with a vine and producing a bottle of wine,” he says. “There is always something new to learn and the dynamic nature of the wine industry means there’s little chance of growing stale.”
Today, the list of award-winning wines made with Nick’s input as a consulting viticulturist is long and notable – including many of New Zealand’s iconic brands, as well as some destined to join that prestigious category in the near future. His wide-ranging knowledge of varieties, clones and rootstocks has proven invaluable in the area of vineyard development and establishment, and often provides the winemaker with a “secret weapon” in terms of blending options.
Starting from his time at Martinborough Vineyard, Nick has been a strong proponent of more sustainable practices; more recently, organic viticulture has captured his interest – Vine Managers is currently poised to begin conversion to organic production on two of its managed vineyards.
“This is a particularly exciting phase in the development of viticulture,” he notes. “It’s always good to keep moving forward.”
Nick is the author and co-author of numerous articles for industry publications, many of which can be found on this website here.
CV highlights
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Started as a horticultural apprentice with the Wellington City Council – growing plants has been a passion for Nick ever since. |
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1987 – 1998
As vineyard manager at Martinborough Vineyard from 1987 to 1998, Nick worked alongside Larry McKenna – together, they achieved their goal of producing premium Pinot Noir in New Zealand. |
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Chair of the Wairarapa Grape Vine Improvement Group, helping to establish the ISO-14001 certified “Living Wine Group” environmental management programme. |
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1998 – 2003
Riversun Nursery Ltd’s chief viticulturist – Nick joined the nursery to advise clients and establish superior sources of rootstock and scion wood for the company – a role that continues today as part of his consultancy. |
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2003
Back to home base in Masterton to set up a viticultural consultancy practice and, in 2005, to establish Vineyard Managers with his family. |
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National Diploma in Horticulture (Fruit Production) |
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Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH) |
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Certified Practising Agriculturist (CPAg)
The New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science INC
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Beyond the Grape |
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Surfing – catches the waves at Castlepoint, Makorori & Wainui |
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Tramping – most years, Nick battles it out in the Jumbo Holdsworth Trail Race |
Favourite Wines |
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Premium New Zealand Pinot Noir and Syrah |
Personal Statement
“I enjoy working with people and growing things. Vine Managers is about helping plants grow but we’re also about helping people and businesses grow and make a profit.”
Janmarie Hoskins, Director and Accounts
Janmarie has been involved in the viticulture industry as long as her husband Nick. She well knows the hard graft, long hours and commitment needed to produce fine wine grapes.
By providing the strong family support required while Nick was working long hours during the growing season, Janmarie set the foundation for Vine Managers current structure as a family owned and operated business.
“We’ve got a really good team and we’re very family oriented,” she says. “I think that gives Vine Managers an edge because people can see how we communicate and work together, and that gives them confidence in the company.”
Janmarie’s background in banking provides another skill set for the company, and she handles all accounts.
Personal Statement
“We enjoy looking after the land and the environment, and producing wine more sustainably appeals to us for the same reason.”
Jasmine Griffith, Director, Admin and Wages
Jasmine, like her brother Rowan, has grown up in the wine industry having worked many a school holiday in the vineyard gaining hands-on experience from her father Nick in grape growing and wine production.
When she joined the workforce, her career path led her into hospitality management and she renewed her involvement in the world of wine.
“I have always enjoyed wine, and during my hospitality days managing Stellar in Masterton I put in the extra time on wine courses and constructing wine lists,” she says.
Jasmine has been involved with Vine Managers from day one as a founding director, with responsibility for administration and payroll. She has also drawn on her previous experience as a graphic designer to create the Vine Managers logo and collaborate on our website.
Jasmine now works two days a week in the office, but she looks forward to taking on additional responsibilities within the company once her children reach school age.
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Caring for two toddlers – Ryan and Skyler – occupies most of Jasmine’s time at the moment. |
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Gardening |
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Holidays at Matakona beach house with the family |
Favourite Wines |
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We call it Syrah and Aussies call it Shiraz – either way, I like it. |
Personal Statement
“I love the fact that my job is flexible around having a young family – I think Mum and Dad have a great understanding of my dual roles in the company and as a homemaker.”
Matt Griffith, Vineyard Manager
Matt Griffith heads Vine Managers’ biggest operation based in Fraters Road, just south of the Martinborough township. On many days, he can be found working on Andy and Elaine Sutherland’s Southdown Estate, which covers some 30ha of gentle, rolling country and specialises in the production of quality Sauvignon Blanc.
In addition to the original Southdown blocks, Matt also manages the Sutherland’s new Sauvignon Blanc plantings, the 17.5ha Draper’s Block. Beyond Fraters Road, he oversees operations at Waiora and Hillview vineyards on the Pirinoa Road.
Matt’s early work experience as a mechanic has stood him in good stead ever since he made the shift to viticulture in 2005, and he services, maintains and repairs Vine Managers’ fleet of vehicles, tractors and vineyard implements.
“I have been with Vine Managers from the beginning and have seen it grow considerably,” he says. “We’re a good, solid company with committed staff.”
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.
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Level 4 of the New Zealand Horticultural Industry Training Organisation’s viticulture programme. |
Beyond the Grape |
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Spending time with Jasmine and the kids. |
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Playing drums and writing music for local band SKAper |
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Surfing |
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Golf |
Personal Statement
“The seasons we have in the Wairarapa make our work interesting – I really enjoy studying the effects of the weather on the outcome of the grapes.”
Rowan Hoskins, Vineyard Manager
Rowan manages Redbank Estate in the rugged Te Muna Road area, east of Martinborough.
He joined his father Nick and brother-in-law Matt at Vine Managers in 2006 as a Vineyard Supervisor and took over management of Redbank the following year.
The Te Muna valley is a place of extremes, but Rowan has come to love the area and enjoys the challenge of coaxing a crop from the weather-beset site.
“The wind is a force of its own, so in winter it’s frosty, and it’s hot and dry in summer, but it’s the best valley in the south east,” he says.
The 10ha vineyard is predominantly Pinot Noir but also produces Syrah, Viognier and Pinot Gris.
The quality of the fruit and wine produced by Redbank has increased dramatically in recent years and Rowan is dedicated to continuing the trend.
“I worked two vintages under Jane Cooper at Matahiwi to gain a better understanding of how grapes are made into wine and what the winemaker considers an ideal grape to be,” he adds.
A former electrician, Rowan is keen to apply new technologies to manage or eliminate problems in the vineyard. He is currently involved in a major project to map Grapevine Leafroll-associated Virus Type 3 in Martinborough vineyards: his role covers co-ordinating and training vineyard managers and owners in the use of GPS technology and virus identification.
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Level 4 of the New Zealand Horticultural Industry Training Organisation’s viticulture programme. |
Beyond the Grape |
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Surfing – should that surprise you? |
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Fishing |
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Skateboarding |
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Playing and listening to music |
Personal Statement
“I love the people, the vineyards and the industry, how it all grows and changes – and then getting to sample the wine at the end of vintage!”
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