Sam Weaver
Winemaker

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Sam’s path, from a rural farming background, through fine wine merchant in the London wine trade to one of Marlborough’s most respected winemakers and winemaking consultants, spans more than 25 years’ wine industry experience. During a career that has included roles as Chief Wine Maker at The Stoneleigh Winery (then Marlborough’s 2nd largest winery) and winemaking consultant to numerous New Zealand wineries, Sam has been quietly crafting well known brands and building a vast knowledge of Marlborough’s terroirs and winemaking. Combine a love for the land, technical skill and experience with the invaluable palate training and consumer insight Sam acquired as a professional buyer of fine wines in London – and the result is a rare blend of market knowledge, sensitivity to the vineyard and winemaking expertise.

These credentials underpin Sam’s vision to produce a sophisticated wine for fine wine palates. His determination to create wines that capture the intensity of flavour and aroma of Marlborough fruit and combine these with the length, texture and finesse characteristic of great European wines requires an uncompromising and disciplined approach. His style demands high quality fruit, strict control in the vineyard and the use of Biodynamics which he believes helps express the site through the quality of fruit. These and the most incremental of adjustments help him finely tune the resulting wines.

Mandy Weaver
General Manager

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Having trained and worked as a translator in London, Mandy moved into the wine industry through her marriage to Sam and their move to New Zealand. The move from the King’s Road, London to an office in the Waihopai Valley was not insignificant but is one Mandy continues to relish. Together she and Sam set up Churton in 1997 and since then Mandy has used her previous business experience to oversee the growth of Churton. This includes the development of 25 hectares of vineyard currently in Organic conversion, the expansion of Churton’s production and its success in an increasing number of export markets. As Ben and Jack Weaver now forge their own pathways at University, Mandy is taking more of an overall management role within the company and works closely with all our staff as Churton continues to grow and move forward both overseas and in New Zealand. Mandy is currently on the executive of OWNZ (Organic Winegrowers of New Zealand).