In this interview, Margaret Dicey sheds light on the early days of the wine industry in Central Otago through her family’s involvement in the development of Mt Difficulty Wines. Mt Difficulty came into existence when the owners of five Bannockburn vineyards joined together to produce wine under their own label, the first vintage being produced in 1998.
Margaret and her family emigrated to New Zealand from South Africa in 1977, settling first in Tolaga Bay. Margaret’s husband Robin was employed as a viticulturalist for Corbans and Margaret, a trained teacher, worked in special needs education. A family holiday in Wānaka in 1988 and a chance encounter with a local vineyard owner led to the decision move south. Margaret and Robin found the landscape and climate pleasingly similar to their former home in South Africa, and they recognised area’s the potential for wine production. In 1992 they planted their first grapevines in Bannockburn. There were challenges to overcome, such as when Robin’s carefully propagated vines were accidentally exterminated by a Christchurch pest control company, but despite that setback the Mt Difficulty company grew and developed into the success it is today.
Interviewer: Sue Johnston
Interview Dates: February 2023
The abstract will help you identify what is being said during the interview.
Dicey's grapevines, 2023
Dicey's land across the Kawarau River, 1991
Dicey's land on Felton Rd, 1991
Margaret Dicey
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