Nearly fifty years on from establishing the first Saint Clair Family Estate vineyard with husband Neal, Judy Ibbotson, both pictured above and right, has celebrated her 80th birthday!
It was 1978 when, followed by three young children and supported by a team of women, Judy planted young vines in what had been the family’s pig farm. Neal was busy doing his ‘day job’, of farm consultancy while the roots of the family business were established.
Together, as the region’s name for quality wine grew, thanks to the pioneering spirit of both Judy and Neal, the couple continued to grow the Saint Clair Family Estate business from the ground up - from vineyard, to moving to their own new winery facility at Riverlands in 2006, to exporting to more than 70 world markets.
Over the years, the venture has seen Judy on her hands and knees in the vineyard, sampling wines in the winery, taking Saint Clair wines to all corners of New Zealand and the world, and competing in many Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathons - which she still participates in today.
From the beginning, Judy and Neal were determined Saint Clair Family Estate would be a business that puts people first - one that celebrates the people who help to get the wine in the bottle, and those who get to enjoy the finished product.
Judy is well known for her vision, her ‘can-do’ attitude, and her friendly and kind nature, with which she’s welcomed people into the Saint Clair family for decades.
Today, and despite encouraging them to forge their own paths, each of Judy and Neal’s children, along with some of their grandchildren have, and continue to work in the business alongside them, which Judy is delighted to have achieved.
Happy 80th Judy! Here’s to many more!
Judy and Neal pictured with the late 'Nana Dawn' Ibbotson (right), in 2010.
