At one of the brothers meetings a while back, it was suggested that I do a blog about Rachael Simpson, our winery intern. Every year, we recruit an intern to help us through harvest at the winery. It's a big help to us and a great learning experience for them. We thought folks would find it interesting to read about our new, young intern from New Zealand. Well, we got busy with harvest, and now, she will be leaving us soon.
I asked Rachael to provide me with a short autobiography and this is what she wrote. I think you will want to read this. After all, how many (female) Highland dancers do you know that play Rugby on a men’s team and make wine?
* * * * *
My name is Rachael Anne Simpson, I am 23 years old, born and raised in Blenheim, Marlborough. A region of New Zealand well known around the world for growing wine and famous for the Sauvignon Blanc, a region where my family chose to call home. My mother Nicola Anne Simpson, preferred name Nicky, was born in Blenheim and grew up locally whereas my father Bryan Graydon Simpson was born in a town out of Nelson called Motueka. I have an older brother named Jeremy and a younger sister Emily (AKA George). I miss my family only wishing I could share this experience with them.
The town I grew up in is quite small and the town centre wasn’t so far away 15 minutes walking distance or 5 minutes by bike. I started highland dancing when I was four years old after finding ballet was not what I enjoyed. I thoroughly enjoyed Highland as I got to wear a Kilt, also other costumes, also winning a few prizes in national competitions. My mum also enjoyed highland and was a great teacher to myself and my sister when she took it on. Over the years I also took on Jazz, Hip Hop and Rock n Roll. I also love playing sport and being outdoors, I play touch rugby in New Zealand with a social team of friends during the summer months and have recently joined up with a team in St Helena where I am currently living playing twice a week, being the only girl has been a challenge but alot of fun.
It was in primary school where I learnt to speak Maori, New Zealand’s most native language. Finishing primary school and only one College or Secondary School to attend being Marlborough Girls' college I began my secondary education in 2000. I completed 5 years at High School, leaving not knowing where I wanted to go. Working at Montana Brancott Winery/Restaurant as a part time job during my school days gaining some knowledge with wine and knowing someone in the cellar I decided to try a harvest season at montana also known as Pernod Ricard. Thoroughly enjoying my first vintage in 2006 meeting great people from all over the world and loving the work I stayed for a further 10 months before finding a job with Delegats, Oyster Bay winery in Marlborough.
The town I grew up in is quite small and the town centre wasn’t so far away 15 minutes walking distance or 5 minutes by bike. I started highland dancing when I was four years old after finding ballet was not what I enjoyed. I thoroughly enjoyed Highland as I got to wear a Kilt, also other costumes, also winning a few prizes in national competitions. My mum also enjoyed highland and was a great teacher to myself and my sister when she took it on. Over the years I also took on Jazz, Hip Hop and Rock n Roll. I also love playing sport and being outdoors, I play touch rugby in New Zealand with a social team of friends during the summer months and have recently joined up with a team in St Helena where I am currently living playing twice a week, being the only girl has been a challenge but alot of fun.
It was in primary school where I learnt to speak Maori, New Zealand’s most native language. Finishing primary school and only one College or Secondary School to attend being Marlborough Girls' college I began my secondary education in 2000. I completed 5 years at High School, leaving not knowing where I wanted to go. Working at Montana Brancott Winery/Restaurant as a part time job during my school days gaining some knowledge with wine and knowing someone in the cellar I decided to try a harvest season at montana also known as Pernod Ricard. Thoroughly enjoying my first vintage in 2006 meeting great people from all over the world and loving the work I stayed for a further 10 months before finding a job with Delegats, Oyster Bay winery in Marlborough.
Oyster Bay is Australia’s top selling white wine and is very well known in the United Kingdom and United States of America. Beginning work in December 2006 I have recently finished my fourth harvest for Oyster Bay and fifth harvest since leaving school. When starting at Delegats I felt I had to learn procedures all over again as fittings and equipment were all called something different from Montana, new slang for equipment and different ways of doing things but I loved every minute. I enjoy the team I work with and I have learnt a lot throughout my years in the winery. Its a huge change coming from processing around 20,000 tonnes of fruit to around 50 tonnes, I am loving the hands on work and learning more and more every day.
We have recently blended our part of our Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Wine at 2 Million liters it was an incredibly big job where I was comfortable supervising as last June I was promoted to Lead Cellar hand and remain the youngest in the cellar. I would love to travel the world and meet people and learn new things. Wine making has become more than a job it has become a dream and a dream that I can’t wait to fulfill. I feel I have grown a lot working closely with people from all around the world who share the same interests and taking on a Supervisory Role over 2010 Vintage seen me grow even more.
I decided at the beginning of June 2010 that I wanted to come to America. I started emailing around with my boss putting my name forward for a winery on the Silverado Trail but getting an email reply saying that all vacancies had been filled. I waited to hear from some other places then I got an email from someone named Anna Monticelli from Pina Cellars. She had heard through the "grapevine" that I was looking for a job so after a few emails back and forth I agreed to come to the Napa Valley. Getting my working visa was a lengthy process and I finally received the papers I needed a week before I had to leave.
I love trying new foods but highly dislike cheese. I am a little bit lactose intolerable but love ice cream. I enjoy making home-made pizzas and enjoy cooking full stop, the reward is sitting down to eat it. I am enjoying trying new wines and learning about the world of wine, the huge range of grapes and styles. I would love to be a Wine Maker one day and I am also interested in Wine Marketing and think this would reflect and highlight my creative side.
I decided to come overseas to learn from life experiences and learn so much about myself and my beliefs and the beliefs of others. So far I have got to see a new side of the world, a new culture, music, even food. I am thoroughly enjoying myself and I am having a wonderful time getting to know new people and hearing their stories and telling them mine. I am thoroughly enjoying the company of the Pina Crew and know I will find it hard to leave as I’m having way too much fun but I know it will never be a goodbye just a See Ya Later.
Jeremy, Bryan, Rachael, Nicky & George - My Grandads 70th Birthday
Jeremy & Rachael
Jeremy (Brother) and Bryan (Dad) - They are firefighters in Blenheim as Volunteer and here they are competing in Dunedin NZ as part of the Road Crash Rescue Team. They have multiple events where they cut dummies out of cars and compete against the nation. Blenheim came 3rd.
They got their helmets all specially airbrushed with flames.
Beth is my Best Friend and we are celebrating my 21st in Blenheim, Marlborough.
Myself and George (Sister), In Nelson NZ, Watching a local team Tasman Makos play rugby
Rachael, the Piña brothers join me in wishing you “Happy Trails” - Ranndy
No comments:
Post a Comment