Sileni Estates People

Graeme Avery, CEO & Owner
Graeme has over 40 years of international business experience gained from his previous involvement in Adis International, a world leading medical publishing business, and is responsible for strategic planning and export market development at Sileni Estates.

In 2003 Graeme was honoured with the award of "New Zealander of the Year" by North & South magazine for his contribution to business, sport and tourism. In 2006 he was further honoured with an Honorary Doctorate from the Auckland University of Technology for his services to sport and health.

Upon moving to Hawke's Bay in 1998 Graeme was instrumental in the establishment of the "Hawke's Bay Wine Country" brand, Food Hawke's Bay and the Hawke's Bay Farmers Market and is currently Chairman of the New Zealand Food & Wine Tourism Network. Graeme is married to Gaby and has three children Simon, Nigel and Monique.

Winery

Grant Edmonds, Chief Winemaker
After graduating with the B.Sc from Auckland University, Grant completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Winemaking at the University of South Australia (Roseworthy). With over 20 years experience in the New Zealand wine industry, including the position of Chief Winemaker for the Villa Maria Group and Esk Valley Estates, Grant now leads a team of talented winemakers and viticultural staff who all share Grant and Sileni Estates' commitment to the vision of making internationally acclaimed wines.

Grant is passionate about Merlot, an affair beginning at Esk Valley Estates and further fuelled by working the vintage at Chateau Pavie in St Emillon in 1990. This spurred Grant on to develop his own label Redmetal in 1996 and to join Graeme Avery to create Sileni Estates from the ground up

in 1997. Grant is married to Sue and has two teenaged children Eloise and Campbell.

Rachel Garnham, Senior Winemaker
Rachel joined Sileni Estates in 2002, originally in the role of Oenologist before becoming the Senior Winemaker in 2007. Although she is involved in the making of all wine at Sileni, Rachel has a particular interest in Chardonnay.

Rachel married Ritchie in 2004 at The Lodge, the residence located at The Plateau vineyard that lends its name to the Sileni Estate Selection Chardonnay.

Vineyards

Stephen Bradley, Group Viticulturist
Stephen has a Bachelor of Horticultural Science with First Class Honours from Lincoln University and comes from a background at HortResearch in Hawke's Bay, followed by 6 years with Delegats in both Hawke's Bay and Marlborough and for the last 2 years as National Grape Supply and Technical Manager with Constellation in Marlborough.

With a wealth of experience and technical knowledge, Stephen's works closely with the individual Sileni vineyards and wine growers.

Stephen is based in Marlborough where he lives with his wife and 3 children, although he has a regular schedule of visits to the Sileni vineyards throughout the country.

Jim Webster, Vineyard Manager - Plateau Vineyard
After leaving school Jim farmed for a number of years before going on to complete an apprenticeship as a fitter and welder working in construction and the marine and hydraulics fields. Wanting to get back to the land Jim purchased his own vineyard in the Gisborne area before joining Montana and managing their Patutahi Estate in Gisborne. Jim joined Sileni Estates at its inception in 1998 and is responsible for Sileni's Plateau Vineyard situated in Maraekakaho.

According to Jim his interests range from "beer, women and many songs", that aside he has a passion for motor sport, motor bikes, fishing and growing things. Jim has four children Teresa, Cindy, Greg and Brooke.

Geoff Smith, Vineyard Manager - Triangle Vineyard
Geoff joined Sileni Estates in 2005 as Vineyard Manager responsible for Sileni's Triangle Vineyards which are located directly adjacent to the winery. Geoff completed a Bachelor of Applied Science at Massey University before commencing work in the wine and horticulture industries. Geoff has previously worked for Morton Estate, Villa Maria and immediately prior to joining Sileni was the Vineyards Manager for Ti Point, Te Kie and Coxhead Creek based in Matakana. In 2005 Geoff received the Skelton Ivory Viticultural Development Scholarship and in 2006 was named Hawke's Bay Young Viticulturalist of the Year.

Geoff enjoys all aspects of horticulture, aquaculture, is a keen fisherman and hunter and loves good wine and food. Geoff is married to Kylie, has two daughters (Nouelle & Emilee), one Milo (the Triangle Vineyard's resident chocolate labrador), two cats and lots of fish.

Aidan Fredericksen, Vineyard Manager - Parkhill Vineyard
Aidan is responsible for the Parkhill estate vineyard at Haumoana. Originally a dairy farmer Aidan moved to the Hawkes Bay in 1995 and worked for a local horticultural supply company where he gained his passion for viticulture. After obtaining a National Certificate in Viticulture Aidan managed a local vineyard Alpha Domus before joining Sileni in 2007.

Aidan has a fiance Katherine, a six year old son Leif and a Boxer named Floyd. Aidan loves the outdoors and is a keen hunter and fisherman.

Sales & Marketing

Pip Austin, General Manager Sales & Marketing
After graduating from Otago University in 1993 with a BA and a Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism Marketing, Pip moved to Auckland and joined the Villa Maria Group. At Villa Maria Pip worked initially in a winery and viticulture support role before moving into sales and marketing.

In 1997 Pip joined French champagne house Moet & Chandon as New Zealand Sales Manager based with the New Zealand distributor New Zealand Wines & Spirits. In 2001 Pip took the opportunity to work with other high profile brands as Group Marketing Manager for the SAKS Group. At the SAKS Group Pip was responsible for the Versace, MaxMara, Hugo Boss, Escada and Ermenegildo Zegna brands in the New Zealand market. However it is wine and food that are Pip’s passion in life and she jumped at the chance to return to the wine industry and moved to Hawke's Bay in 2003 to join Sileni Estates.

Leanne Amphlett – National Sales Manager
Leanne joined Sileni in 2001 and is responsible for sales, trade marketing and new business development of Sileni wine in the New Zealand market. With over fifteen years experience in the liquor industry, she has previously held sales roles with leading FMCG companies including Glaxo Pharmaceuticals, DB Group, Lion Nathan and Maxxium.

Leanne has worked with many of New Zealand’s most respected wine brands, as well as prestigious international wine brands such as Penfolds, Moet & Chandon and Dom Perignon.

Leanne has a Diploma in Business, and she leads a sales team located in Auckland (where she is also based), Wellington, Bay of Plenty and Christchurch.

Nigel Avery – Business Development Manager
Nigel has recently joined the family business and his primary focus is sales support for our domestic wine business. At the same time Nigel is learning more about how wine is made via practical work in the vineyards and winery.

For the past 5 years Nigel has been General Manager of Sport at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health in Auckland. In this role Nigel was responsible for looking after the high performance / long term athlete development and Health & Fitness programs. Nigel has been strongly involved in competing, coaching and in the administration of athletics and weightlifting but his focus is on his family at present.

He enjoys keeping fit, eating, the opening weekend of the duck shooting season and a good walk in the forest with the intention to fill the freezer with venison! Nigel is married to Shelley and has three daughters, Blaise, and twins Hunter & Neve.

Cellar Store

Anne Boustead, Retail Manager
Anne joined Sileni in June 2008 as Cellar Door Manager. Originally from Southland Anne has been based in the Hawke’s Bay for 35 years. Anne has a varied work history including being the popular local publican of the Tikokino Hotel.

Anne is a real people person and this coupled with her love of wine prompted her move into the wine industry. Outside of work Anne enjoys cooking, travelling, writing and being a Nana to 5 Grandchildren. Anne is married to John and has 2 daughters and 3 sons.