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Clive Jones
Clive Jones joined Nautilus Estate as Winemaker in August 1998, and the 2011 season was his 20th vintage making wines from the Marlborough region. And he doesn't look a day over 21 himself!
Prior to joining Nautilus, Clive worked as an industrial chemist. Deciding the wine industry was perhaps a tastier career choice, he completed a degree in wine science by correspondence from Charles Sturt University. He then spent six years absorbing New Zealand’s Dalmatian wine heritage at Selaks Wines in Auckland before making the change to Marlborough’s better climate and more relaxed lifestyle.
Clive has overseen the development of the Nautilus Pinot Noir programme, including the design and operation of our specialised Pinot Noir Winery. As part of this, Clive made a pilgrimage to Burgundy in 2004 to work a vintage at renowned producer Domaine Dujac.
With a consistent pedigree going back to Clive’s first year at the estate, Nautilus Pinot Noir is today considered a Marlborough benchmark.
Clive is equally passionate about the other varietals he produces at Nautilus and designed the Nautilus White Wine Cellar in 2006 with Marlborough’s flagship white varietal, sauvignon blanc, firmly in mind. He more recently worked to refine the Nautilus Chardonnay style through low yields, wild ferments and minimal malolactic fermentation, which has resulted in a more complex and elegant style.
Clive is a respected member of the local winemaking community, recently joining the board of Wine Marlborough. He also represents the region on various panels and debates both locally and overseas.
Prior to joining Nautilus, Clive worked as an industrial chemist. Deciding the wine industry was perhaps a tastier career choice, he completed a degree in wine science by correspondence from Charles Sturt University. He then spent six years absorbing New Zealand’s Dalmatian wine heritage at Selaks Wines in Auckland before making the change to Marlborough’s better climate and more relaxed lifestyle.
Clive has overseen the development of the Nautilus Pinot Noir programme, including the design and operation of our specialised Pinot Noir Winery. As part of this, Clive made a pilgrimage to Burgundy in 2004 to work a vintage at renowned producer Domaine Dujac.
With a consistent pedigree going back to Clive’s first year at the estate, Nautilus Pinot Noir is today considered a Marlborough benchmark.
Clive is equally passionate about the other varietals he produces at Nautilus and designed the Nautilus White Wine Cellar in 2006 with Marlborough’s flagship white varietal, sauvignon blanc, firmly in mind. He more recently worked to refine the Nautilus Chardonnay style through low yields, wild ferments and minimal malolactic fermentation, which has resulted in a more complex and elegant style.
Clive is a respected member of the local winemaking community, recently joining the board of Wine Marlborough. He also represents the region on various panels and debates both locally and overseas.
Mike Collins
Mike fell in love with wine whilst working as a sommelier in New Zealand during the mid 1980s. He soon decided his calling was in the vineyards however, and rolled up his sleeves for several vintages at various estates around Australia in the premium Barossa, Yarra, Coonawarra and Hunter regions. He consolidated this practical experience with a bachelor of applied science (wine science) at Roseworthy Agricultural College.
Returning to New Zealand in 1993, Mike worked for various producers gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience of growing premium wine grapes of various varietals and styles.
In 2002 a step up beckoned and Mike joined Blake Family Vineyards, based on Gimblett Road in Hawke's Bay, as Director of Viticulture. During his tenure at the estate the wines won a number of trophies.
Mike arrived at Nautilus in August 2006 taking the role of Viticulturist, turning his attention from the premium Bordeaux blends he had focused on further north, to the different climate and terroir of Marlborough with its focus on aromatic whites and premium Pinot Noir. Attracted by the diversity and quality focus of Nautilus Estate’s vineyard holdings, Mike is intent on capturing the different expressions of each parcel in each different season, allowing the winemaking team to produce wines that are distinctly Marlborough in character, and with their own Nautilus Estate textural expression.
Returning to New Zealand in 1993, Mike worked for various producers gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience of growing premium wine grapes of various varietals and styles.
In 2002 a step up beckoned and Mike joined Blake Family Vineyards, based on Gimblett Road in Hawke's Bay, as Director of Viticulture. During his tenure at the estate the wines won a number of trophies.
Mike arrived at Nautilus in August 2006 taking the role of Viticulturist, turning his attention from the premium Bordeaux blends he had focused on further north, to the different climate and terroir of Marlborough with its focus on aromatic whites and premium Pinot Noir. Attracted by the diversity and quality focus of Nautilus Estate’s vineyard holdings, Mike is intent on capturing the different expressions of each parcel in each different season, allowing the winemaking team to produce wines that are distinctly Marlborough in character, and with their own Nautilus Estate textural expression.
Brett Bermingham
Brett grew up in Marlborough and started his wine industry career at Highfield in 1997. He then worked for a stint at Cloudy Bay and Cellier Le Brun, and quickly found a passion for Marlborough Pinot Noir.
A period overseas followed, working at a contract winemaking facility in Victoria, before he headed home to work at the contract facility Rapaura Vintners in Marlborough. He quickly gained a taste for Nautilus Pinot Noir and joined Nautilus full time in 2006. Since then he has also completed a vintage at Rex Hill in Oregon working in their premium pinot facility.
“As a local Marlborough boy, I have always loved Marlborough’s wines and particularly the pinots. They are just awesome. I have had the fantastic luck to work with some of the region’s best winemakers and continue to learn from Clive.”
Brett is generally to be found wandering through the Nautilus Estate Pinot Noir Winery with a barrel thief in his hand and a smile on his face.
A period overseas followed, working at a contract winemaking facility in Victoria, before he headed home to work at the contract facility Rapaura Vintners in Marlborough. He quickly gained a taste for Nautilus Pinot Noir and joined Nautilus full time in 2006. Since then he has also completed a vintage at Rex Hill in Oregon working in their premium pinot facility.
“As a local Marlborough boy, I have always loved Marlborough’s wines and particularly the pinots. They are just awesome. I have had the fantastic luck to work with some of the region’s best winemakers and continue to learn from Clive.”
Brett is generally to be found wandering through the Nautilus Estate Pinot Noir Winery with a barrel thief in his hand and a smile on his face.
Katy Prescott
Wine and travel have long been a passion for Katy, who studied languages at university and has spent time touring and living in France, Italy, the USA, New Zealand and Australia as well as her native UK.
After graduating from university she joined a management trainee programme at BP and focussed on marketing. However the call of wine was strong and Katy decided to leave corporate life and move into the (more pleasurable) world of wine full time.
A period working in sales for American company E&J Gallo taught her the nuts and bolts of the industry and she was recognised as the top UK salesperson for the company in 2005.
She moved to New Zealand in 2006 with her Kiwi husband and started working for Nautilus Estate as Global Sales and Marketing Manager. She is based at the winery but travels regularly to events and tastings in different markets around the world.
She continues to indulge her passion for wine through ongoing studies and is participating in the Master of Wine study programme. In 2011 she was the winner of the Master of Wine Champagne Trinity Scholarship, awarded by Bollinger, Louis Roederer and Pol Roger Champagne houses.
After graduating from university she joined a management trainee programme at BP and focussed on marketing. However the call of wine was strong and Katy decided to leave corporate life and move into the (more pleasurable) world of wine full time.
A period working in sales for American company E&J Gallo taught her the nuts and bolts of the industry and she was recognised as the top UK salesperson for the company in 2005.
She moved to New Zealand in 2006 with her Kiwi husband and started working for Nautilus Estate as Global Sales and Marketing Manager. She is based at the winery but travels regularly to events and tastings in different markets around the world.
She continues to indulge her passion for wine through ongoing studies and is participating in the Master of Wine study programme. In 2011 she was the winner of the Master of Wine Champagne Trinity Scholarship, awarded by Bollinger, Louis Roederer and Pol Roger Champagne houses.