Our People
Peter Treacy and Nicki Treacy
25 Steps is the embodiment of our vision to make great Pinot Noir. We were travelling in Otago in 2002 when we saw the slope at the northern end of the Sugar Loaf near Lowburn. The setting was so robust and beautiful, very much like the wine we wanted to make. So we took the first steps...
Along the way, we’ve been joined by a team of people who helped us make this dream a reality. While the land gives the wine its character, it takes dedicated people to bring it to fruition.
Viticulturists
Father and son viticulturist duo, Robin and James Dicey of Grape Vision Ltd helped to develop the vineyard from the start and are still involved in the day-to-day management of the vines.
They believe the essence of growing great Pinot Noir is to plant it on a warm site in a cool area. “This apparent paradox is actually very difficult to achieve, as these special places are few and far between. 25 Steps is one of them,” says James Dicey.
“Another unique aspect is the amount of variation within the site – the varied orientation of the rows along the face of the Sugar Loaf, the combination of flat and terraced areas and the mix of clones.”
Robin agrees. “It is hard to imagine a better combination. Nature gave this site special advantages, but it is up to the viticulturist and the winemaker to realise the potential and capture the essence of the site.”
Winemaker
Award-winning winemaker Carol Bunn and her team at Vinpro in nearby Cromwell also worked with us right from the start. Carol has an intimate knowledge of the wider region and particularly the vagaries of Pinot Noir.
Carol has produced two outstanding Pinot Noirs for us in 2006 and 2007. These are the perfect first steps on our journey towards creating a legacy that does justice to the outstanding vineyard and the passion of our team.