Marijana Brajkovich – Director
With a background in international hospitality, sales, and marketing as well as a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Marijana is an enormous asset to Kumeu River Wines as it markets its reputation for producing world class Chardonnay. Marijana works across a wide range of roles from finance through to marketing and sales with brother Paul.
Melba Brajkovich, MNZM
When Melba Brajkovich met her husband Maté in 1957, she had very little knowledge of the business of wine making. In the many decades since, she has become one of New Zealand’s most experienced and knowledgeable women in the industry. Kumeu River Wines has been a labour of love for Melba. She provides a fascinating source of knowledge and history. Melba was recognised in the 2014 Queens Birthday Honours for her services to the NZ wine industry by being made a member of the NZ Order of Merit
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Lisa Margan
Managing Director/Hospitality Operations
Lisa Margan, Managing Director of Margan Wines, is a key figure in the growth and success of the award-winning winery, restaurant, and cellar door in the Hunter Valley. While her journey into the wine world began with her marriage to winemaker Andrew Margan, it evolved into a multifaceted career. With a background as a teacher, chef, and nutritionist, Lisa played a vital role in shaping Margan Wines, which she co-founded in 1996. Her international experience in Bordeaux, France, as a chef, helped shape the winery’s vision for blending wine and food. Together with Andrew, Lisa developed a sustainable business that produces 25,000 cases of wine annually. Their cellar door has been named Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year three times, and their restaurant continues to set the standard for farm-to-table dining. In addition to her professional achievements, Lisa holds a WSET Diploma in wine and a Master’s in applied science & nutrition and has been recognized for her contributions to the food, wine, and hospitality industries.
Alexandra Burt – Proprietor
Alexandra represents the second generation of the Wright family who have owned and operated Voyager Estate since 1991.
Alex took over the management of the Estate in 2005 and became the sole proprietor of Voyager in 2018. Her vision is to guide the wine growing and making process in a sustainable way from start to finish with minimal intervention, to craft wines that are the purest expression of place.Â
Cherie Spriggs – Head Winemaker
Having studied biochemistry in university, Spriggs always had a passion for science. Her love for wine led her to do a Masters of Science degree at a wine research centre in Vancouver, Canada. It was then she realised that, as much as she enjoyed studying the science in wine, her creative side had her yearning to be more involved in winemaking. “I just felt like that fit of science and art was such a beautiful blend, and it became obvious I should be a winemaker,” she says.
Cherie and husband Brad Greatrix first joined Nyetimber as winemakers in 2007, after trying a bottle gifted to them by Cherie’s parents. They instantly recognised the promise of this early wine, and since 2007, Cherie and Brad have been integral to building Nyetimber into a sparkling wine producer that rivals the best in the world.
In 2018, Spriggs won Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge – an achievement for the history books as she was the first person outside of Champagne, France, as well as the first woman ever, to win this prestigious award.Â
Valerie Maquet – General Manager
Holder of a prestigious MBA degree in Paris and from a family of farmers in northern France, Valérie Maquet discovered her passion for wine after gaining experience managing an ecological foundation dedicated to nature conservation.
For the past 10 years, she has been wholeheartedly dedicated to the estate’s management by creating elegant wines, blending finesse and authenticity.
Surrounded by a passionate team of 20 collaborators, she brings patience, absolute precision, and constant energy to honor this unique terroir, a true sanctuary of nature.Â
Caroline Frey – Owner & Winemaker
Caroline Frey is a highly talented and passionate winemaker and viticulturist, quickly making a name for herself in the French wine industry. Her family took over Paul Jaboulet Aine in 2006 and she has continued to produce the high quality wines for which they are famous as well as stamping her own mark on them.
Frey grew up in the Montagne de Reims in the Champagne region of France. Her father Jean Jacques, a property investor, had a strong passion for wine and bought some vineyards there when she was just a child, so she grew up in tune to the rhythm of the vines and a taste of the industry. He later invested in some of the Champagne houses and in 2000 he purchased Chateau La Lagune, a third growth in Haut Medoc, Bordeaux. Caroline had always loved horses and had been an equestrian champion, however, she felt her destiny was to be in the wine industry so enrolled at Bordeaux University. There she studied and was fortunate enough to have Bordeaux legend Denis Dubourdieu as one of her professors. She undertook her internship at Ch. Reynon and graduated top of her class. In 2004 she ran her first vintage at La Lagune.
When the family acquired Paul Jaboulet Ainé in 2006 she also took up the role of winemaker and viticulturist there. Caroline Frey is fast becoming one of the top winemakers in France, admired for her persistence for quality which begins in the vineyard. Under her leadership the Paul Jaboulet Ainé vineyards were certified for Sustainable Farming and she now follows organic and biodynamic practices.
Anne Moreau- Brand Ambassador
“I was born in the South West of France, I have a master degree in business that I studied in Bordeaux and Madrid, validated in both countries. I met Louis in Vinexpo Bordeaux in 1993 (you can’t make it up…). His family has been settled in Chablis since 1814 and the family vineyards initially covered mostly Premier Cru Vaillons and Grands Crus. When we took over the family estate, Louis and his father had purchased an estate with vineyards in Petit Chablis, Chablis and 1ers Crus Les Fourneaux and Vau Ligneau to complete their existing property.
Louis and I started from scratch, in both productions and commercialization. Today, we export 700.000 bottles to 46 different countries. In addition to my responsibilities within the estate, I have been a member of the BIVB (Bourgogne Wine Board) for 12 years and I am currently President of the Marketing and Communication Commission.”
Leto Paraskevopoulou
Second Generation- Gaia Wines
Leto studied in the University of Leeds where she got her Bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and then went on to do a Master’s in Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh. Then she decided to give wine a shot. After various harvests in smaller or bigger wineries in Greece and abroad Leto finally joined GAIA. Since 2018 she is the head of production in Gaia Wines in Santorini.
Sofia Karatsalou
Second Generation – Gaia Wines
Leto studied in the University of Leeds where she got her Bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and then went on to do a Master’s in Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh. Then she decided to give wine a shot. After various harvests in smaller or bigger wineries in Greece and abroad Leto finally joined GAIA. Since 2018 she is the head of production in Gaia Wines in Santorini.
Charlotte Symington
Marketing Manager
Charlotte started her career in the wine trade in 2014 at John E Fells, Symington’s UK distribution company before moving out to Portugal in 2018 to join Symington Family Estates. Charlotte is responsible for the Marketing Department, managing their 4 major port brands – Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s from product development, design, communications through to activations, ensuring that their brands continue to respect their heritage but embrace the future in everything they do.
Charlotte was the first female family member to join the company and works alongside her uncles, brothers and cousins from the 4th and 5th generation of the family.
Yukino Ochiai
Director of Deja vu Sake Company,
Sake Samurai, WSET Level 3 Japanese Sake educator, and Kikizakeshi.
Yukino Ochiai is a passionate certified Sake specialist. Born in Nagoya in Japan, Yukino grew up with a family who loved Japanese Sake and considered it as family tradition.
In 1987, Yukino moved to Sydney with her family and began her career in the wine industry. For over ten years she worked in sales and marketing for a number of premium Australian wine brands including Penfolds, Rosemount Estate, Wynn’s Coonawarra, Lindemans etc.
Having been exposed to premium Japanese Sake throughout her life, Yukino was determined to bring high quality Sake into the Australian market, and in July 2012 Yukino and her husband Andrew Cameron and business partner, brought this dream to life, founding Deja vu Sake Company.
Saki Sano
Digital/Marketing – Deja Vu Sake Co.
Lynette Moore
National Business Services Manager
Yolanda Bensdorp
Customer Service
Caroline Clarkson
Digital/MarketingÂ
Sandy Yang
Commercial Manager
Kyra Crannage (Left)
Area Manager
Gold Coast/Northern NSW
Jennifer Anderson (Right)
Area Manager
Sydney/Brisbane/Gold Coast
Penny Claiborne
Area Manager
NSW South Coast
Nicci Mitchell
Area Manager
Melbourne