Marlborough's harvest traditions - part 2 at Saint Clair

As one of the pioneers of wine in Marlborough, Saint Clair Family Estate has built a large array of traditions over the years, not least of all during harvest.

Acknowledging the help they receive from people across all corners of the globe to get fruit into bottles, the team at Saint Clair places huge emphasis on making those people feel as welcome and at home as they can.

Prior to the arrival of covid-19 on New Zealand shores, the beginning of the harvest was traditionally marked with a BBQ to welcome harvest staff.

When not away at a wine event in Germany, Founders Neal and Judy Ibbotson would attend the BBQ personally to officially welcome each staff member, reminding them to remember to have a bit of fun during the long 12-hour days and nights.

Historically held on the same day as the Framingham Harvest Party, each staff member is also provided with a ticket and transport to the event.

Saint Clair Director and Marketing Manager Julie Ibbotson says the company also takes special pride in being able to provide each vintage worker with a goodie box filled with delights from Marlborough and across New Zealand.

“Due, traditionally, to the amount of international people, we include NZ themed or branded items like Chocolate Fish; things they have not tried before like local honey. This box of goodies is very well received,” she says.

One of the longest running traditions at the winery is to ring ‘the bell’ to symbolise any significant event; something which is done to mark the arrival of the first fruit to the winery each year. 

“For as long as we’ve had our own winery, the bell has been rung for any significant occasion,” Julie says. 

“It was rung at the winery opening, it gets rung at some events that are hosted at the winery, and at the start of vintage. We usually get a call from out in the field that the grapes are on the way, the first fruit of the season, and we prepare staff that it will be coming soon.”

Thankfully, this tradition, done alongside the sharing of a glass of Saint Clair Dawn Méthode Traditionelle bubbles, has been able to continue in a distanced manner since covid arrived.

This year, however, the welcome BBQ has been cancelled, and it is expected that a traditional ‘end of harvest’ team party will also need to be adapted.

Neal will provide his welcome speech via a pre-recorded video in an effort to ensure the only people at the winery are winery staff.

Despite this, the team will attempt to celebrate another year’s work in the vineyard, and keep morale high during long days and nights as best as they can.

“We are looking at other ways that we can have food and drinks, where we can remain socially distanced and maintain the covid controls we have in place,” Julie says.