Mt Difficulty winemaker Matt Dicey was going to use his chemistry degree from Canterbury University to train as a forensic scientist. But with a family background in the wine industry, and after working a vintage he realised that winemaking was really what was in his blood. So he graduated with a Master of Applied Science (Viticulture & Oeneology) with first class honours from Lincoln University, and went on to continue the reputation of Longburn Wines (Cromwell) in producing outstanding Central Otago wines.

He's been winemaker there since 1998, principally making wines for the Mt Difficulty partnership from Bannockburn, but also making wines on contract for Mt Michael Vineyard, Alexandra Wine Company, Thyme Hill, Wentworth.

Matt gained practical experience on his parents' Central Otago vineyard, Full Circle Estate, as well as other small local vineyards, and worked as cellar hand at Pegasus Bay Winery (Canterbury) and Corbans Wines (Gisborne) before gaining a job as experimental winemaker at Matua Valley Wines (Kumeu) where he was responsible for production of a variety of wines styles from grapes undergoing viticultural trials.

Matt's international experience includes working as a vintage cellar hand at Ponzi Vineyards in Oregon, and consultant winemaker in the Stellenbosch, Wellington, Worcester and Robertson regions of South Africa - his country of birth, and in Tuscany, Italy. A string of medals for his first vintages quickly established Matt as a serious winemaker in this region. Matt was named runner-up Winemaker of the Year in the recent edition of Australian magazine Winestate.

        

Central Otago Wine Trail | Wine Trail Map | Wine Tours | Vineyard Stays | Accommodation | Other Tourism Activities | Conference & Wedding Venues

All contents and coding of this site is Copyright © 2006 of NZSouth Limited,
All rights reserved, please contact for any enquiries regarding the content of the site.