Welcome to one of our two 2026 Vintage Interns, Freddie Rae. He joins us from the UK, by way of the Prince Edward County region in Ontario, Canada where he worked as Assistant Winemaker at Norman Hardie before starting his own label, Skimming Bird.
When did you know that you wanted to work in wine?
In 2019, Sergio Agüero sat in my section at The Ivy after a Manchester City game and gave me a taste of his Corton-Charlemagne
What drew you to doing a vintage in Central Otago?
The regions' reputation for quality Pinot Noir
Outside of New Zealand, where is your favourite wine region and what’s the attraction?
Burgundy, it’s the style and nuance of the wines that reach levels of complexity that I still sometimes find hard to believe
Is there anywhere outside of Central Otago you particularly want to explore before heading back to Canada?
I explored Martinborough prior to vintage and loved seeing the contrast in style, alongside an equal commitment to quality as Central Otago.
What are your favourite things to do when you’re not at the winery?
Be with family and friends
Do you have a favourite type of cuisine and why?
Do you have a favourite type of cuisine and why?
French - I love umami flavours and an unapologetic use of butter
If you could have a dinner party with 3 notable people (alive or dead) who would you invite?
Emile Peynaud, Girard Basset, Steven Spurrier