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Our Team

Meet the Artisans Behind the Labels

The Winemakers Crafting Fine Central Otago Pinot Noirs, in our unique 4-storey gravity-fed winery

HAMISH KEMPTHORNE

NATIONAL WINEMAKER

HAMISH KEMPTHORNE

Since establishing our gravity-fed winery operations in 2019, Hamish has been at the forefront, overseeing the innovative direction and intricacies of our distinctive gravity-based winemaking techniques. With a rich 23-year history in winemaking spanning New Zealand's premier viticultural regions, Hamish collaborates closely with Brett to craft each vintage's truest sub-regional representations of Central Otago Pinot Noir, embracing a philosophy of minimal intervention and gentle handling.

One of the aspects Hamish loves most about his job is the people he gets to work with—a team of like-minded individuals spanning the winery, vineyard, and sales departments. The diverse range of unique vineyard sites and soils provides him with a balance of cool climate opportunities and winemaking challenges, fueling his creativity.

BRETT BERMINGHAM

WINEMAKER

BRETT BERMINGHAM

Brett grew up in Marlborough and started his wine industry career in 1997. He then worked for several prominent Marlborough wineries, quickly finding a passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and all things wine industry related. A period overseas followed, working at a contract winemaking facility in Victoria and vintages in Oregon before heading home to New Zealand.

Following an additional 14 harvests in Marlborough, Brett stepped into a new chapter, leading our Gravity Winery team in January 2020. With expertise and vision, he creates our Bannock Brae range of terroir-expressive Pinot Noirs. If you don't find Brett wandering through the barrel halls with a barrel thief in his hand, you can find him tasting wines with the Gravity Cellar Door team and talking all things wine with the customers.