Meet the Team at Ash Ridge
Behind every bottle of Ash Ridge wine is a passionate, dedicated team who pour their heart and soul into every step of the process. From vineyard to bottle, we’re a close-knit group with diverse skills, deep knowledge, and a shared love for Hawke’s Bay. Whether it’s in the winery, the vineyard, or welcoming you to the cellar door, we’re here to ensure every experience with Ash Ridge is memorable. Get to know the faces behind the wines you love!
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Leith – Owner & Winemaker
He completed his degree in Oenology and Viticulture at Lincoln University in 2004 and has since built a 20+ year winemaking career, including international harvests in Bordeaux and Oregon. At Ash Ridge, Leith leads with experience, grit, and a commitment to honest, expressive wines that speak of place. Outside the winery, he’s a coffee addict, rock and roll die-hard — and, despite what he might say, secretly fond of the resident chickens. |
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Thalia – Assistant Winemaker and Jack of All Trades Originally from the U.S., Thalia grew up in Hawaii — a long way from the vineyards of Hawke’s Bay. She moved to New Zealand to study Oenology and Viticulture at EIT, and quickly made herself at home in the wine world. With a harvest in Napa Valley already under her belt (and more overseas vintages on the horizon), she brings international perspective and serious work ethic to the Ash Ridge team. Half-local at heart, thanks to her Kiwi dad from Pahiatua, Thalia wears many hats at Ash Ridge — from assistant winemaker to the brains behind our marketing, events, and social media. She brings a vibrant energy to Ash Ridge and is an essential part of the team (and often tries to drown out the rock and roll soundtrack with a little ABBA).
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