The place to hear great stories from New Zealand winemakers, vineyards owners and others in the industry. Hosted by Boris Lamont. Published by Podcasts NZ.
Sierra Reed built her experience across 19 vintages in 5 countries, trained under a 13th-generation winemaker in Beaujolais and now produces single-site wines in Victoria, Australia and Waitaki Valley, New Zealand. But her path to wine started on American Survivor, then through modelling, TV travel shows, and a moment in a New Zealand vineyard that changed everything.
In this episode, Sierra shares her remarkable journey - from Hollywood to harvest, from blind tasting to finding Waitaki Valley, and why she believes Riesling is the most misunderstood grape in the new world.
www.reedwines.com (https://reedwines.com)
www.nzwinepodcast.com (http://www.nzwinepodcast.com)
www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast (http://www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast)
Music track featured on this podcast: ‘Here He Was’ – courtesy of Brent Page. Dog Squad Music
31 Aug 2026
Royce McKean - Tiki Wine
Royce McKean of Tiki Wine in North Canterbury’s Waipara chats with us about buying an 800-acre sheep farm (plus a neighbouring 100 acres) in 2004, planting vines in 2005–06, and starting as a contract grower before releasing Tiki’s first wine—a 2009 single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc—then expanding into Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir plus others.
Royce describes relying on experienced viticulture support including Dr Dave Jordan, the challenge of launching a new brand during the post-2008 oversupply, and the origin of Tiki, Maui, Waiata and Koro brand names.
He shares highlights including making wines for his parents, and announces Tiki’s approval for regenerative certification by A Greener World, while discussing wider regenerative goals via the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation. He closes by sharing why he'd choose Woody Harrelson as his dream wine companion.
www.tikiwine.com (https://www.tikiwine.com/)
www.nzwinepodcast.com (http://www.nzwinepodcast.com)
www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast (http://www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast)
Music track featured on this podcast: ‘Here He Was’ – courtesy of Brent Page. Dog Squad Music
12 Aug 2026
E107 Jen Parr - Valli Wine
We chat with Jen Parr, winemaker at Valli Wine in Central Otago, New Zealand.
Jen grew up in Oregon, USA and spent nearly a decade in the tech industry before following her passion for wine to New Zealand via a grape-picking trip in southwest France. She shares the story of her winding path - from Stanford University to software sales in London, to cellar hand at Villa Maria, and ultimately to head winemaker at Valli, where she has now crafted 12 harvests across five sub-regions including the Waitaki Valley.
Jen talks about what drew her to Central Otago, her mentorship under Grant Taylor, and her philosophy that wine is fundamentally a language - a narrator of place, geology, and time. She also discusses Valli's expanding range of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, the winery's charity wine series that supports local causes, and her passion for community, mentoring the next generation of winemakers, and championing New Zealand wine as a whole - not just her own label.
The episode closes with Jen's personal answer to the final question: who she'd share a glass of wine with, what, where and why.
www.valliwine.com (https://valliwine.com/)
www.nzwinepodcast.com (http://www.nzwinepodcast.com)
www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast (http://www.instagram.com/nzwinepodcast)
Music track featured on this podcast: ‘Here He Was’ – courtesy of Brent Page. Dog Squad Music
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