MAUDE

"Since leaving their last roles as winemakers / general managers at the prestigious Tower Estate and Tempus Two wineries in the Hunter Valley, winemakers Sarah-Kate (SK) and Dan Dineen have quietly built a winery, a new home, developed the Maude wine label and started a family amidst the stunning back drop of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago, New Zealand. It is no surprise to wine industry insiders that their wine, Maude, has become an instant success. But like any supposed 'instant' success there lies an enormous amount of energy, experience and professionalism behind a project, which epitomises this winemaking couple. Sarah-Kate and Dans ultimate goal is to make first class Pinot Noir and illustrating that they don't underestimate the monumental nature of this task Dan has stated; "It will take a lifetime to truly understand the variety and how it performs under different conditions but SK and I will have a lot of fun learning." - Maude

Dan and Sarah-Kate Dineen

Dan and Sarah-Kate Dineen are a unique winemaking couple. When they married in January 2003 they were described as "the beginning of a new wine dynasty". Both are winemakers with a depth of experience in the Hunter Valley, Australia and Europe who have decided to move back to family and New Zealand, now making wine in the exciting region of Central Otago. The Family, who own Mount Maude Vineyard, belonged originally to Sarah-Kate. A Kiwi, Sarah-Kates last role in the Hunter Valley was to design and oversee the building of the new Tempus Two winery and become its manager / winemaker. Sarah-Kate's achievements in Australia have seen her become a Young Achiever Scholar as well as a Len Evans Scholar, progress up through the wineshow judging system becoming a full judge and panel chair of many capital and regional wineshows throughout Australia, including the Sydney, Adelaide, Australian Boutique Winemakers Shows and Winestate Magazine. Since moving back to New Zealand she is already a Cuisine Magazine Panel Judge and has an exciting future ahead as a judge and mentor in the New Zealand wine industry.