Marlborough Recognises One Of Its Greats

For immediate release
30 October 2007

Marlborough Recognises One Of Its Greats

• Pioneer of Marlborough wine industry remembered
• Inaugural lifetime achievement award goes to 31-year veteran

The David Herd Lifetime Achievement Award was presented for the first time in Marlborough on Saturday night. Coinciding with the Marlborough Wine Weekend, the Award recognised an individual who had contributed to the success of the region’s wine industry, during the past 34 years.

Gerry Gregg who began working for Montana 31 years ago as an engineer and has gone on to become Pernod Richard’s National Wineries Manager was a popular choice for the award. Having attended the weekend’s Gourmet Dinner, featuring chef Martin Bosley, Mr Gregg was taken by surprise at the announcement.

He said his long career had been “less a journey and more a big drink, with gulps rather than sips.”

Overwhelmed and humbled, Mr Gregg was uncharacteristically lost for words.

He has been described as the quiet achiever of the Marlborough wine industry who has worked through flood, drought, frost, fire and international mergers.

Having been involved in all aspects of the wine industry, Mr Gregg has also been a major promoter of the Marlborough Wine Festival which is held at Pernod Ricard’s Brancott Estate every February.

He oversaw the building of Montana’s first winery, helped with the development of vineyards, has been responsible for employing hundreds of staff over the years, helped implement environmental practises and was responsible for overseeing the building of Brancott Winery and restaurant.

There is a saying among his many peers, that everything you see at the Montana Brancott site is “Gerry Built”, or at least built by Gerry.

The David Herd Lifetime Achievement Award is named after the first person to plant grapes in the Marlborough Region. David Herd planted less than an acre of grapes in Paynter’s Rd, in the heart of Fairhall, exactly 100 years before Montana arrived in the province. Those first Muscat wines went on to win awards at shows in both New Zealand and Australia and were lauded for their medicinal attributes.

Wine Marlborough marketing Manager Tom Trolove says it is highly appropriate to remember the true pioneer of the Marlborough Wine Industry with such an award, and even more appropriate that it went to the individual who helped place Montana and Marlborough on the map 100 years later.

The trophy presented to Mr Gregg was produced by renowned Marlborough potter Fran Maguire.

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