Our People .:. Mt Difficulty Wine Maker / General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Cellar Door, Central Otago New Zealand

Winemaker / General Manager

Matt Dicey – B.Sc & M.App Sc

Matt has a lifelong association with the wine industry, and is a fourth generation vigneron. This association was formalised through gaining a Masters Degree in Oenology and Viticulture. He has been involved in winemaking for the past 14 years, four of which were spent gaining experience overseas. He returned to Bannockburn in 1998 to try his hand at the ultimate winemaking challenge – making the best wines possible in a region with infinite potential. Matt has made Mt Difficulty Wines since 1999.

Sales and Marketing Manager

Michael Herrick Dip Mktg

Michael has 10 years experience in wine sales and marketing and has always had a passion for wine. He spent 3 years in Britain and Europe gaining sales and marketing experience prior to returning to a leading New Zealand wine company. Mike and his young family are relishing life in Central Otago.

Assistant Winemaker

Roger deGrauw

Roger spent twenty years obsessively tasting and hoarding wine until his wife suggested this might be a good career direction. He went to EIT in Hawkes Bay to get a Certificate in Winemaking and then sought vintage experience with Mt Difficulty in 1999, which led to work in Oregon wineries for the next four years, and a vintage spent in Burgundy. He brings an alternative palate to Mt Difficulty. Roger has been our assistant winemaker since vintage 2001.

Cellar Door

Cellar Door Manager / Administration – Carol Henderson (2nd from left)

Carol has worked in the wine industry since 1995, working in administration and bottling in Marlborough, a welcome change after working in corporate offices. Returning south to be closer to family, Carol looks after all the administration requirements of Mt Difficulty Ltd and oversees the Cellar Door management.

Cellar Door Assistant Manager – Emma Lawton (1st from left)

Emma has been working in hospitality since 2000 and came to Mt Difficulty after four years at Cromwell cafe Gallery Fare on 6, where her great skills as a hostess and barista were refined. Emma runs the Cellar Door on a day-to-day basis and also co-ordinates functions.

Executive Chef – Werner Hecht-Wendt (the bloke)

Werner began at Mt Difficulty in early 2008, coming to us via restaurants at Nugget Point and Amisfield. His focus is on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. He is a keen gardener, and has established a small vegetable garden at the Cellar Door.

Jacqui Rose-Anderson (4th from left) manages our mailing list, and liaises with our customers for orders and general enquiries. She also dispatches wine from the warehouse and runs the Mt Difficulty Not-So-Difficult Wine Club. Jacqui has been involved in wine retail since owning Cromwell’s Wine Shop in the mid 90’s.

Nicki McDonald (standing right) has four years experience at the wine tasting counter and is a great source of viticultural information, having joined the Cellar Door from the vineyards. Pipeclay Terrace was the first vineyard Nicki worked in and it was a case of love at first sight. When she first tasted Pipeclay Terrace Pinot Noir 2004 she knew it was for keeps.

Sharyn Henderson (sitting front) runs the kitchen in Werner’s absence, producing dishes consistent with his standards. Having a background in rural catering, Sharyn has relished learning from Werner since he began working at Mt Difficulty.