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Patrick Stowe
OWNER AND WINEMAKER
Born and raised in the Napa Valley, Calafornia, Patrick's made his first wine at age 19 and has been getting better at it ever since.
He graduated from California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo) in 1984 with a degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology.
During his 15+ year career as a scientist in the biotechnology field in the San Francisco Bay area Patrick made wine annually; first with a group of six award-winning home winemakers and then with professional winemakers in the Napa Valley.
Moving to New Zealand and founding Rimu Grove in 1995, Patrick was able to apply his knowledge of microbiology and biochemistry to winemaking at his own winery. Still learning and experimenting, improving and perfecting his technique almost 20 years later, Patrick is the steady hand at the helm of Rimu Grove.
He also has an incredible well stocked wine cellar at his house, which is why we like to invite ourselves around to his and Barbara’s place for dinner as often as possible.
Lukas Sivak
VINEYARD MANAGER
Born in the United States, Lukas’ family immigrated to New Zealand when he was a little kid. He grew up around the Nelson region before heading overseas at the age of 16 to go to school in Canada.After graduating from Lester B. Pearson, United World College of the Pacific in 2003 he gave up on the academic world and headed off to wander around the globe doing various jobs in various places for the next 7 or so years. Lukas started working at Rimu Grove as an occasional casual seasonal worker off and on between his travels.
When he finally decided to “settle down” in 2010 he came back to Rimu Grove and started full time as vineyard supervisor and eventually took over as manager of the vineyard and winery operations. As well babysitting our vines year round and training and directing our seasonal crews, Lukas is also our one-man art department, designing, writing and drawing for our website and wine labels.
Yvan Bosteels
ASSISTANT WINEMAKER
Yvan Bosteels was born in Switzerland to parents of Belgian descent. He studied International Hospitality Management at Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne before going on to study Winemaking at Ecole d’ingenieurs de Changins.
While travelling around New Zealand, Yvan stopped in at the Rimu Grove cellar door right in the middle of the crazy business of the 2011 harvest. Our cellar door staff sent him down to the winery to say hi and have a look around.
He took a bunch of photos and we put him to work helping us clean the press. Almost a year later, out of the blue, he sent us an email from Berlin and mentioned that he was between jobs. We didn’t as yet have an assistant winemaker for our upcoming vintage so we invited him down.
He jumped on a plane and arrived jetlagged and ready to work two weeks later. Yvan started with us as full time assistant winemaker and sales and marketing manager in 2013. He is also our resident chef, specialising in wild foods, he’s the one we beg to cook for us whenever we get the chance.