FFW
29/05/2015 09:25
GENERAL
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REL: 0925 HRS Foley Family Wines Limited
GENERAL: FFW: Top Winemaker Alastair Maling MW Takes Key Role At FFW
NZAX Release
29 May 2015
For Immediate Release
TOP WINEMAKER ALASTAIR MALING MW TAKES KEY ROLE AT FOLEY FAMILY WINES
NZAX-listed Foley Family Wines Ltd has appointed Master of Wine and former
head of winemaking at Villa Maria, Alastair Maling, as its new Chief Group
Winemaker / Head of Viticulture.
Established in the USA in 1996, Foley Family Wines is a major producer,
marketer and distributor of highly acclaimed handmade wines from some of the
world's top vineyards. Here in New Zealand, it is home to leading wineries
including Te Kairanga and Martinborough Vineyards in Martinborough, and
Marlborough's Vavasour and Grove Mill.
One of only nine New Zealand based Masters of Wine, Alastair has spent the
past 11 years with Villa Maria Group in Auckland, where as GM of Winemaking
and Viticulture he was also heavily involved in overall group strategy and
export markets.
As Chief Group Winemaker / Head of Viticulture at Foley Family Wines,
Alastair will now play a key role within the senior management team,
overseeing winemaking and viticulture and working closely with the executive,
sales and marketing teams.
Foley Family Wines NZ CEO, Mark Turnbull, says he is excited to have Alastair
join the Foley family.
"Over the past few years, FFW has invested heavily in its wineries,
vineyards, bottling and most recently warehousing, providing a strong
foundation for future growth."
"Alastair brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, not just of
viticulture and winemaking but from a sales and marketing and commercial and
strategic perspective."
"His addition to the senior management team will help take the business to
the next level, providing the capabilities we need to move it forward."
Starting with FFW at the beginning of July, Alastair himself says he is
looking forward to the challenges ahead.
"I couldn't help but feel this was an opportunity to work on a group of
brands with considerable potential, with a progressive company and most
importantly alongside a high caliber team of winemakers whom I have admired,
along with the wines they are producing."
Born and raised in Hawke's Bay, Alastair's winemaking career has seen him
travel extensively, gaining a wealth of experience in both old and new world
wine regions and an impressive range of grape varietals and international
winemaking styles.
In 2000, Alastair became just the sixth New Zealander to achieve a Master of
Wine qualification and one of only three New Zealand winemakers to ever pass
the prestigious Master of Wine Exam. Alastair's time at Villa Maria saw him
responsible for winemaking and viticulture across Esk Valley, Thornbury, Te
Awa, Vidal and more.
Noted by Decanter Wine magazine in 2003 as one of five young New Zealanders
to watch, he has been honoured with the title of Winemaker of the Year at the
Royal Easter Wine Show a total of four times, and as White Winemaker of the
Year at the highly regarded International Wine Challenge in London in 2007.
Aside from his viticulture and winemaking duties, Alastair has served on
local industry bodies Gimblett Gravels from 2003 to 2006 and New Zealand's
Pinot Noir Conference since 2007.
Harvest Report
Foley Family Wines has completed its 2015 grape harvest, harvesting a total
of 5,300 tonnes across the Marlborough and Martinborough wineries. This year
represents a drop of 22 percent on last year's record harvest of 6,807 tonnes
and is in line with other companies.
Mark Turnbull CEO said although FFW's total yields were down, yields across
the company owned Marlborough vineyards were down 16 percent which meant the
company had performed relatively well.
"All our winemakers are delighted with the quality of the wine vintage and
are looking forward to making more great wines that people around the world
love to drink".
IWC Great Value Award
Since January 2015 the company has received a record number of accolades with
a total 35 awards including one trophy and four gold.
The Great Value trophy (between ?7 and ?12 category) went to our 2014 Russian
Jack Sauvignon Blanc at this year's International Wine Challenge, with the
varietal now in the running for overall Great Value Champion Award for White
Wine at the IWC awards dinner in London this July.
Several successful airline tenders will also see Vavasour Pinot Noir 2012
served in Cathay Pacific Business Class and Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc 2014 in
Etihad Business Class.
Authorised for public release.
For further information please contact:
Mark Turnbull
CEO, Foley Family Wines Limited
PO Box 67, Renwick, 7243, Marlborough
Tel: +64 21 714 885
Email: [email protected]
End CA:00264997 For:FFW Type:GENERAL Time:2015-05-29 09:25:44