OUR STORY

FROM THE NETHERLANDS

Sandra and Jaco are both born and raised in the Netherlands, with a high-level hospitality background. They met on a wine trip to France in 2009 and got married in the Champagne cellars (30 meters under the ground) of Pol Roger in 2013, the no.1 Champagne of Sir Winston Churchill.

From the moment they met, they knew that The Netherlands wouldn’t be their forever home.

LIVING THE DREAM IN AOTEROA

Sandra and Jaco already planned their trip to New Zealand before they got married. The plan was just for a year to gain their knowledge about viticulture.

Arriving in New Zealand in 2014 and taking the first steps in the almighty Brêloft vineyard, they fell in love with the beauty of the Awatere Valley and the view of mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku.

Jaco is taking care of this vineyard full-time, and they got the opportunity to lock-off certain parts of 3 different blocks (Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir) which they call now Merekara Wines.