The Winery Manager Franchessa Lean is the Manager for Wishart Estate Winery. She runs the day to day business of the winery including the promotion and sales activities as well as the accounts and wine production logistics. Fran also handles the direct marketing through internet sales.
Our Wine Making
Our wine makers have a passion for wine and all aspects of wine production. They enjoy being involved in crafting high quality wines that reflect the characteristics of the region. During vintage Nathan Bird applies his experience of past vintages and his daily involvement in viticulture to assist with the day to day processing of the fruit.
From the time of harvest until bottling, the wines are pressed, fermented and matured, each under the continuous care of the winemakers. They guide the natural process to finally shape each of the wines into the products we recognise as Wishart Estate wines.
Viticulture
Vineyard Team The main Wishart vineyard is owned and managedby Robbie Bird, one of the founders of Wishart Estate. Robbie studied viticulture at UC Davis in California and has a lifetime experience with grape growing in Hawke’s Bay. Robbie is also a shareholder and a director of Wishart Winery and plays an active role in the management of the company. Nathan and Daniel Bird are both sons of Robbie and Sheryl, his wife. They play an important role in assisting with the vineyard management. Throughout the year they can be seen with the rest of the team, looking after the vines or supervising the harvest. Most of the vineyard workers are regulars who have been with the company for years and are all very much part of the team.
The quality of the viticulture work in the vineyards is reflected in the quality of the finished wine. Without the top quality fruit that enters the winery every year, Wishart Wines would not deserve the accolades they now receive. |
 Fittings Board  Robbie Bird and Staff checking the vines
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