Mike and Robyn established Isabel Estate in 1982. They take great pride and pleasure in pursuing their dream of producing inspired wines with strong expression of individual style and character as determined by the vineyard soil and site.
Email: Robyn@isabelestate.com
Patricia Miranda hails from the Maipo Valley in Chile and joined the Winemaking Team at Isabel Estate in 2004. Patricia studied Agronomist Engineering, specialising in Economics, Oenology and Viticulture at the Pontific University Catholic of Chile.
Patricia has worked in a number of wine regions including the Yakima and Napa Valleys in the USA, and has also assisted in vintages at Henri Bourgeois in Sancerre, France and Dr. Loosen in the Mosel region in Germany. Patricia endeavours to make wines that reflect the individual characters from the vineyard and the superb Marlborough climate, creating expressive, as well as complex and elegant wines. "I think that the Marlborough region has natural winemaking conditions; it is well known for its Sauvignon Blanc and also this cool climate holds great potential for the increasingly explored varieties such as Pinot Gris."
Email: Patricia@isabelestate.com
Jane is an enthusiastic addition to the winemaking team. Concentrating her focus on the cellar and endless amounts of cleaning, maintenance, and topping barrels! The final stage of the wine is also in Jane's able hands with our in-house bottling line.
Jane's skills reach beyond the winery, time spent backpacking throughout South America and Europe has given her the ability to cope with the tight schedule of international and national marketing trips. Her natural passion for the family business shows when meeting some of the world's best culinary experts and our loyal Isabel fans.
Email: Jane@isabelestate.com
Aaron is our latest member to join the Isabel team. A graduate of Nelson Boys' College, he then went on to study Commerce, Accounting & Info systems at Otago University in the deepest darkest part of the South Island. Always enthusiastic, he enjoys a glass of Pinot Noir at the end of a days work, and as many coffees as we can make in a day!
Aaron brings a refreshingly dry sense of humour to the Bean counting dept. and is voted most popular on the other end of the phone!
Email: Aaron@isabelestate.com
Mike, a born and bred Marlborough man with a strong background in Horticulture. He holds fierce respect for the vines and enjoys the challenges of Marlborough's complex soils and often unpredictable climates. Mike overseas all vineyard activities with an eye for detail. In the weekends Mike enjoys being out on the water in the Marlborough Sounds, our very own sailors paradise 20 minutes drive away. With this he can reveal his competitive streak with Tuesday night racing. The toys don’t stop there, the faster the better according to his new Harley... However, after an extensive day amongst the vines, a cold beer is enough to satisfy.
Email: Info@isabelestate.com
As well as being a cellar hand, Luke has taken charge of shipping the wine and general maintenance around the winery. He is always up for making a new record loading containers bound for all kinds of destinations... Gaining his college education in Christchurch, as did all the Tiller children, he then went on to study International Business at Victoria University in Wellington, spending some of that time on exchange at Leeds University in England.
In 2007 Luke spent further time in Europe working in the Languedoc region of Southern France. Working at a long established co-operative winery primarily in charge of the innoculations to some 600,000 litre concrete tanks... Apparently, this was quite an experience! Fluent in French, he is hoping to complete a few more 'vintages abroad' before continuing on at Isabel along side the family.
Email: Luke@isabelestate.com
A recent Bachelor of Science graduate from the University of Auckland, Brad is keen to put into practice much of his previous 4 years of research and study into the family business. With the degree-box ticked and the city life behind him, Brad is back at his roots - out in the vineyard, where he was found most of his childhood - playing on tractors, riding motorbikes, fixing things that weren't even broken, and chasing around his Dad.
Keen to continue Isabel's reputation as one of Marlborough's leading vineyards, and with a double major in Environmental Management and Physical Geography, Brad is the driving force behind Sustainable and Organic certification and constantly adapting newer technologies into the vineyard.
Email: Brad@isabelestate.com
(Pictured with Fritz the winery cat) Caitlin brings an interesting background to the team at Isabel. After completing her high school education in Christchurch, she went on to Victoria University in Wellington to study Environmental Science and Digital Media Design. Now she is taking on a range of tasks, such as Cellar Door, Graphic Design, a little Marketing, updating the website and various online blogs, as well as general correspondence.
She has a curious palate trained from a young age and is often organising in-house tastings. Caitlin hopes to travel overseas soon to complete a vintage abroad to gain more understanding in the winemaking process. She is most likely the friendly face you will meet at our cellar door.
Email: Caitlin@isabelestate.com
