Meet The Team
Co-Owner
Simon Lints
A Scottish law graduate, Simon followed an international career in finance (UK, US, Middle East and Asia) culminating in being the CEO of a bank in Singapore. Corporate world continued by building a portfolio of strategic advisory and non-executive positions for successful international businesses as well as being the Scottish Government Trade Envoy for Singapore and New Zealand. He is now following his “onwards and upwards” motto working with Carolyn to build a wine business and vineyard destination that dreams are made of!
Co- Owner
Carolyn Lints
Carolyn trained as a lawyer in Scotland (quite a while ago!) subsequently becoming qualified in Scottish and English law. She ran a legal firm in Scotland before moving to Singapore where she lectured corporate governance, practised law and became a qualified company secretary. She is now loving life on the vineyard!
Vineyard Manager
Renan Catailotti
After a degree in viticulture and Oenology
From the agronomy school of Montpellier, South of France, I have worked in a large winery near Toulon for six months and a cooperative winery near Montpellier during vintage for three years on.
It is after working for six months in a large vineyard near Toulon ( south ) that I decided to travel through Australia and then New Zealand.
Here I have met my beautiful kiwi wife and we both decided to stay live in this amazing part of the world.
After managing Meniscus vineyard, a small vineyard above Akaroa village, organically for ten years, I had the
opportunity to lease French Peak in 2016 and made the transition to organic management with a lot of trials, errors and success.
Carolyn and Simon have bought French Peak property in 2021 and I have the pleasure to carry on the vineyard's management organically with them and going through the biogro certification with many more plans and exciting ideas to come
Watch this space!"
Assistant Viticulturist
Alex Vilain
With a background in media and software sales, Alex moved to NZ in 2021 from France and has been pursuing his passion for wine ever since. He has worked in vineyards and in a winery, for 3 vintages, in North Canterbury and for 2 seasons now here at French Peak.
He has WSET level 3 qualification and is always happy to talk about wine!
Animal Support
Kumara
Our wee rescue kitten who has found his forever home at French Peak. He is playful and inquisitive and can often be found exploring our grounds, soaking up attention and love from our visitors. His endearing presence adds a touch of warmth to our picturesque vineyard, and he has become an integral part of our family here at French Peak.
Client Winemaker
Gavin Tait - Greystone Wines
Our excellent winemaker began his studies in Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University in 2000. After graduating in 2004 he spent a short period in Central Otago on vineyards through the Gibbston Valley region. He then returned home to Canterbury and in to his permanent position growing and making wine in Waipara region of North Canterbury.
Gavin says that over the years he has worked with a wide range of fruit from many different varieties and from many regions and sub-regions around the South Island. He says that Akaroa and Banks Peninsula is a particularly interesting subregion of North Canterbury, with wines that show structure, vibrancy and fruitful lift due to soil and topographical differences.