Royce McKean of Tiki Wine in North Canterbury’s Waipara chats with us about buying an 800-acre sheep farm (plus a neighbouring 100 acres) in 2004, planting vines in 2005–06, and starting as a contract grower before releasing Tiki’s first wine—a 2009 single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc—then expanding into Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir plus others.

Royce describes relying on experienced viticulture support including Dr Dave Jordan, the challenge of launching a new brand during the post-2008 oversupply, and the origin of Tiki, Maui, Waiata and Koro brand names.

He shares highlights including making wines for his parents, and announces Tiki’s approval for regenerative certification by A Greener World, while discussing wider regenerative goals via the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation. He closes by sharing why he'd choose Woody Harrelson as his dream wine companion.

www.tikiwine.com

www.nzwinepodcast.com

www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast

Music track featured on this podcast: ‘Here He Was’ – courtesy of Brent Page. Dog Squad Music

We chat with Jen Parr, winemaker at Valli Wine in Central Otago, New Zealand.

Jen grew up in Oregon, USA and spent nearly a decade in the tech industry before following her passion for wine to New Zealand via a grape-picking trip in southwest France. She shares the story of her winding path - from Stanford University to software sales in London, to cellar hand at Villa Maria, and ultimately to head winemaker at Valli, where she has now crafted 12 harvests across five sub-regions including the Waitaki Valley.

Jen talks about what drew her to Central Otago, her mentorship under Grant Taylor, and her philosophy that wine is fundamentally a language - a narrator of place, geology, and time. She also discusses Valli's expanding range of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, the winery's charity wine series that supports local causes, and her passion for community, mentoring the next generation of winemakers, and championing New Zealand wine as a whole - not just her own label.

The episode closes with Jen's personal answer to the final question: who she'd share a glass of wine with, what, where and why.

www.valliwine.com

www.nzwinepodcast.com

www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast

Music track featured on this podcast: ‘Here He Was’ – courtesy of Brent Page. Dog Squad Music

Nicholas Paris MW, and Managing Director of his family's Monte Christo Winery in Central Otago, reflects on his journey through the wine world, the vision behind revitalising this historic estate, and the balance between honouring legacy and crafting elegant, site-driven wines that speak to the region.

A Master of Wine with experience spanning retail, auctions, distribution, and international wine consultancy, he brings a global perspective to one of New Zealand’s most significant wine sites shaping its next chapter with both respect and ambition.

www.montechristowinery.co.nz

www.nzwinepodcast.com

www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast

Music track featured on this podcast: ‘Here He Was’ – courtesy of Brent Page. Dog Squad Music