People
Grant Taylor |
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Grant Taylor |
Born in Otago New Zealand, Grant graduated from Lincoln College, Canterbury, New Zealand. His wine making career began in California where in 1980 he helped build Pine Ridge Winery and worked as assistant winemaker until 1986. In 1987 he helped build another Napa Valley winery, Domaine Napa, where he was head winemaker until 1993. Lured by big trout, clean air, fewer people and the potential he saw for Otago wines, Grant returned home later that year to become Gibbston Valley’s winemaker. At that time there were 50 hectares of grapes in Otago; today there are over 1600ha. Grant has made wine for Gibbston Valley for the past 13 years and has just recently left to concentrate on Valli. Throughout his career in New Zealand, he has made the first wines for a number of other very successful Otago wineries. In 1998 he established his own label, Valli, and purchased 6.5ha in Gibbston. Grant purchases fruit from Bannockburn and Waitaki to produce two other single vineyard Otago Pinot Noirs. Valli’s aim is to produce single vineyard premium Pinot Noirs highlighting the differences in Otago’s sub-regions. Grant’s winemaking for the past 14 years has been dedicated primarily to Pinot Noir. In 1995 he helped to establish Oregon’s renowned Pinot Noir producing winery, Archery Summit and has consulted there for most vintages since. Like a number of other Australian and New Zealand Pinot producers he has worked at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy. Having just completed 40 vintages Grant is looking forward to the next 40 and how much knowledge they will bring in helping to understand Otago’s potential. |
Elizabeth Keys |
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| Elizabeth joined Valli in 2006. She has a Winemaking and Viticulture degree from UC Davis and has completed nine harvests worldwide. She has also consulted for an American Import company primarily sourcing Australian and New Zealand wines. Elizabeth’s main roles is sales and marketing but her winemaking experience also adds depth, fresh insight, and another palate when it comes to winemaking decisions. Elizabeth is the youngest member of the Valli family; her intelligence and energy is a vital ingredient to the family blend. |
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Tony Lingard |
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Tony Lingard |
Tony is the oldest and wisest member of the Valli family. After many years of vineyard experience, Valli was fortunate enough to offer Tony a vineyard in which he now enjoys spending more time in than he spends at home. Most owners would not be seen as much in their own vineyard as Tony is seen in Valli’s 3.5 Ha Gibbston Vineyard. Tony’s steadfast dedication to the vineyard almost single-handedly makes the Valli Gibbston Pinot Noir what it is today. |
Tim Valli |
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Tim Valli |
Tim is Grant’s first cousin and the only Valli family member carrying the name. His background is in forestry, farming and horticulture. He has worked vintage in Napa Valley and Otago. Since 2005, he has been Grant’s right hand man during harvest and in the off-season is responsible for maintenance of the property and helping Tony in the vineyard. |