Meet the Team...

Darryl Soljan - Chief Bottle Washer

With a passion for wine, food and travel, Darryl reckons he has the world's best job. A voracious reader and sports lover (he was an Auckland representative runner, completed the 1996 NZ Ironman and recently walked the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker), Darryl also coaches his son Dominic's soccer team and has total sympathy for the frustrations of professional coaches all over the world. Darryl is usually introduced as "Bridget's husband", was awarded "Hospitality Personality" at the 2009 Manaakitanga Awards and received the "Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality" in 2010. He chairs the Warkworth Wellsford Hospice Advisory Group and is a Trustee of North Shore Hospice and the North Shore Hospice Foundation.

Bridget Soljan - The Real Boss

Bridget was made an "honorary Dally" following an outstanding effort planting out Ascension's vineyard while pregnant in 1997. Like Darryl, Bridget was an Auckland rep runner in her previous life though these days she is a full time mum and spends most of her time chasing Dominic & Emma. An enthusiastic lover of life, Bridget can be found most Tuesday evenings at Pub Quiz where her team regularly finishes outside the top three and is 'in training' for the Oxfam Trailwalker 100km event in Taupo in 2012.

Bridgette Robinson
Director of Romance, and
Connoisseur of Meetings & Events

Big changes have brought Bridgette to Ascension. She has traded the big lights of the city to become a bonafide country girl! Now there are gumboots (albeit red ones!) in the wardrobe along with her customary high heels.

Having grown up in Auckland Bridgette spent most of her early years (and not so early years) dancing. Only a few years ago, she gained distinction in ballet and earned one of the top marks in the country at that time.

Bridgette has organised many events in her career from military themed weekends to corporate hospitality for an AC/DC concert to large public events at some of Auckland's Museums, which is where she has joined us from.

Carlie Blanchett-Burton
Artisan of Amore, and
Artisan of Meetings & Events

Carlie joined Ascension some years ago as a 'full time mum looking for some part time work'. She is so great with people that we made her a full time Artisan of Amore & Meetings/Events as well as a full time mum. Luckily she lives just over the hill.

She is a lady of many talents. Carlie is about to complete a tertiary arts qualification she has been studying for several years and has produced many beautiful and varied works which have been exhibited throughout Auckland. She has a gorgeous singing voice as well - a karaoke star - and we can often hear her singing away without a care in the world.

Lina Mendigana
Maestro of Hospitality

Originally from the heart of Colombian coffee country, Lina has a degree in advertising and experience in the media industry as a producer. Arriving in NZ several years ago, Lina discovered the hospitality industry and has gained experience working in some of NZ's most exciting & iconic venues managing front-of-house hospitality staff - from exciting nights on Ponsonby Road to luxury properties on the Tutukaka Coast, Waiheke Island and finally to Ascension Wine Estate!

Lina takes pride in bringing professional service and a ready smile. She loves all things food and wine and spoils her cat Jeronimo - who she even takes for walks!

Michael Foxall
Kitchen Commander

Michael and his wife Tina (a chef de partie at Ascension) have been with us since the very first day we opened our doors in 2000. Michael is from Manchester, England, and is a devoted fan of Manchester United FC.

Predrag Jankovic
Kitchen Lieutenant

Predrag joined us from Croatia in 2007 having worked in a number of top kitchens around the Mediterranean. A dedicated food lover, Predrag's special interest is seafood though he has a hankering for expensive ingredients like truffles, and really good red wine.

Justin Le Cheminant
Operations Manager (i.e. covers everything!)

Justin hails from Guernsey in the Channel Island via the UK to New Zealand. He originally wanted to be a cruise ship captain and started his career with Cunard in the hotel division and stayed with the hotel industry through to managing the prestigious Hotel du Vin in NZ for 7 years to 2000. Self-employed since then in the hospitality and retail industries, Justin is a return migrant to Ascension Wine Estate having worked with us in 2006/7 when the Belfry Function Centre was commissioned.

The meaning of Justin's surname is "the traveller" and he lives up to his name with lots of international experience in many different venues. Justin is learning Italian and wants to retire to a trattoria in Pescara in his sunset years.

Mike Reid
Winemaker (reds)

Mike has worked at a number of premium New Zealand wineries, and as well as crafting Ascension's red wines, makes small volumes of his own "Michael Ramon" label from local fruit. Mike is a scratch golfer and a Crusaders supporter - apart from that we like everything about him!

Allison Gordon
Botanical Zen-master

Over the years, Ascension's gardens and grounds have grown extensively, particularly with the addition of substantial vegetable and herb gardens for the kitchen.

Allison takes care of all things "green", propagating heirloom plants from seed, meeting the demands of chefs and keeping the gardens gorgeous. Allison also helps the vineyard lads, especially "tying down" during pruning - the vines, not the lads.

Annette Graamans
Chief Palate Officer

Annette and her friendly Cellar Door team are the first faces you see when you arrive at Ascension! Annette looks after all aspects of the Cellar Door, though it would be fair to say that her interest in wine is much more than just purely professional! A keen tennis player, Annette is also a busy grandmother.

Allan Moors
Grape Guardian & Gamekeeper

Allan looks after the entire grape growing operation and is also responsible for Ascension's grounds and maintenance. An "ex-Westie" and Henderson orchard owner, Allan is a top shooter (a bit of a shame for our rabbits), a very even-tempered golfer and widely regarded as the "dad" at Ascension.

Malcolm Kidd
Assistant Grape Guardian & Gamekeeper

Born and bred in Matakana, Malcolm definitely meets the 20 year residency rule to be a "local". Malcolm is naturally talented at just about every sport he tries, much to the chagrin of the rest of us. Whether it is cricket, golf, pool, darts or a punt on the footie, he always excels. Widely regarded as Ascension's most "thrifty" staff member!

Kim Pemberton
Chef

The lovely Kim joined us in 2008 after completing a Diploma in Culinary Arts at AUT University. She is a smart young lady and this year completed a Diploma in Event Management as well! Kim is an animal lover and lives on a beautiful block with her birds Rocky, Zephyr, Sid & Scooter plus Meow Mex the cat, Jelly & Lottie the pet sheep and Pedro the axolotyl!

Samantha Noyer
Chef

Sam's family are dyed in the wool locals and have been in the area for about 400 years! Sam joined us straight from high school and then spent the next few years successfully completing her Modern Apprenticeship in Cookery.

Sam is also a member of the Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade and can occasionally be found standing on the side of the road in a sexy fluoro vest waving a light sabre. She looks all sweet and everything but she is a cheeky rascal!