THE FARM
The Glover Family’s vineyard is located in the Dillons Point sub-region, of Marlborough. Only 3km from the sea, along the banks of the Opaoa River. The soils are fertile, Kaiapoi silt loam. But more importantly, is the whitebait running past the front door along with crayfish and paua a short ride on the Massey Ferguson 135 tractor down the road.
The vineyard is planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir. These are perfect wines to match to food we are lucky enough to forage from our farm surrounds.
THE GLOVER FAMILY
Wendy and Owen Glover ran a dairy farm on Dillons Point Road, Marlborough. It was a fourth-generation dairy farm, and that’s how it was. Their four children along with Owen and Wendy, were always found milking, feeding out, shifting the electric fence, but it was the 4am starts that finally did it, the kids just didn’t want to get up! So Owen decided to sell the heard and use the land for something else.
The first grapes went in the ground, the spring of 1988 and the kids went from pulling teats to titivating young vines, a backbreaking job, but at least they got to sleep in! Eldest son Ben went off to winemaking school and earned his stripes working for brands over the years such as Wither Hills, Lindeaur, Corbans and Mud House, with always a dream to return to the family farm and the Ferguson tractor.
Nowadays, Ben runs the family winemaking operation, Glover Family Vineyards, along with his wife Susie, their four (yes another lot of four) free range children. He is aided by his two youngest siblings, Lucy, her husband Francis, and Jack along with his partner Georgie, and all their brood, 9 in total.
Most of Owen’s time is now mostly spent in the shed fixing the machinery that his grandchildren routinely break whilst out on the farm. He likes to instill in them all, the lessons of the land; being resourceful, observant and patient. Owen still gets on the tractor and tools, he is the active manager running the farm, although he is always up for a tractor ride with his grand-kids.
