Our People

Christine Kernohan - Managing Director/Chief Winemaker

Christine is chief winemaker, involved in all stages of winemaking, and manages the business. One of only three Scottish women winemakers in the world (it not being a common career aspiration where or when she grew up…!), Christine ‘fell into the wine industry’ after a happenstance visit to Gladstone Vineyard with David one spring weekend in 1995.

Christine previously worked in the computer industry in business analysis and project management, and was also involved in social research and agriculture industry research. She has an MBA from Massey University and farming experience from involvement in a goat, sheep and beef farm at Hunterville. Gladstone Vineyard was the opportunity to run her own business, bring together the rural life with business, and apply her scientific bent from way back!

Away from the business, she is a passionate (and sprightly) grandmother (and mother), keen(ish) cyclist and enjoys gardening, music and reading.

Contact Christine

David Kernohan - Director/Quality Control

David is owner/taster, architect and former Associate Professor at the School of Architecture at Wellington's Victoria University.

He has been operating his own research and building heritage consultancy, Architecture Diagnostics, from the vineyard for the past eight years. He retains a part-time teaching appointment at Victoria University, focusing on building heritage conservation and is author of five books on architecture including Wairarapa Buildings published in 2003.

David is a Deputy Environment Commissioner; was co-author of the Hunn Report on the weather-tightness of buildings that precipitated the Building Act 2004; and is a former Director of Wellington Waterfront Limited.

David is a keen rugby supporter and past player at senior level, a novice cyclist and enjoys a spot of golf when he’s playing well. He is an avid reader, a talented writer and a proud father and grandfather.

Contact David

Kyle Mason - Vineyard Manager

Kyle is vineyard manager and has been at Gladstone Vineyard for over five years. Wairarapa born and bred, he has a degree in applied science, majoring in horticulture from Massey University – his interest in horticulture stemming from time spent with his grandfather tending the family vegie garden as a young boy.

Kyle finds his role as viticulturist both challenging and rewarding. He loves the outdoors and finds that the job offers a good balance between working both inside and outside.

When not tending to the vines, Kyle spends as much time as he can with his wife and two young children. He also enjoys being in the garden and is a keen follower of all sports.

Contact Kyle

Gerhard Smith - Winemaker

Gerhard has been making wine at Gladstone Vineyard since the 2005 vintage. He moved to the Wairarapa in 2004 from Stellenbosch, South Africa and has completed vintages in Australia, the United States and France (Bordeaux) as well as South Africa.

Gerhard loves the challenges of winemaking in the Wairarapa and the quality of the wine that you are rewarded with when you meet these challenges. He believes the Gladstone region is fantastic for wines of great quality, elegance and individual personality, that reflect the site and the people involved.

Gerhard is married with a young daughter – who arrived during the 2007 harvest. Any spare time involves a slight obsession with sport – rugby, golf and cricket; and gardening when none of the above is available.

Contact Gerhard

Leo Donworth Cellar Door Manager

With a degree in mechanical engineering, Leo took an unlikely path through the Majestic Wines Graduate Programme in the UK, working through the ranks to become Store Manager before coming to New Zealand and working in liquor sales and hospitality then settling in the Wairarapa.

As Cellar Door Manager at Gladstone Vineyard, she has a well earned reputation for never letting a customer leave empty-handed and is playing an increasing role in overall sales and service, managing and training all hospitality and cellar door staff.

Leo lives in Greytown with her husband and two young boys.

Contact Leo

Melanie Megaw - office manager

Melanie has a wide and varied role including office administration, cellar door, email orders and database updates.

Melanie loves the variety of her role, after being a stay-at-home mum for five or so years. She particularly enjoys the wine tasting and food matching component of the job – something no-one has to twist her arm to do!

Melanie has two children – who enjoy mum working at the vineyard so they can play in the sandpit and run after the ducks. She is currently training to do the Lake Taupo Cycle race for the second time, and loves cooking and socialising with friends.

Contact Melanie

Zane Saba - Head Chef

Zane is Head Chef at the Gladstone Vineyard Cafe and has a wide and varied career in hospitality.  After growing up in the Wairarapa he spent four years in London, returning to buy Fords Cafe in Wellington which he ran for five years before moving with his family back to his hometown of Masterton. 

Zane's philosophy is to offer fantastic, fresh, great tasting food which utilises the best produce the Wairarapa has to offer.  His talent and flair for food has been recognised with awards from the New Zealand Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence. He has also featured in Cusine Magazine and most recently on TV3's The Kitchen Job.

Contact Zane

sophie Kernohan - vineyard dog

Sophie, our loyal retriever and blonde bombshell, has been with us at Gladstone Vineyard since October 1996.  Ageing gracefully, she is a much loved member of the Kernohan family and Gladstone Vineyard team.

Renowned for sitting patiently by customers’ tables at the Vineyard Café and eating grapes around the crusher with Baxter, Sophie has been immortalised by not only having a tank named after her in the winery, but also a limited release Fumé Blanc, Sophie’s Choice.

BAXTER Kernohan - vineyard dog

Baxter, our beautiful boxer, joined us in December 1998, a Christmas present for David, who always wanted a boxer.  Putting aside any jealousy after about half a day, Sophie took him under her wing – and Baxter soon discovered her warmth, literally.

Now an old man going grey and deaf, in his prime he used to jump so high his run had to be fenced across the top.  Along with Sophie, he still uses his energy reserves to chase birds under the nets.

He too has a wine tank in his name.