The Motly, International Clan at Highlands Road Estate Wines
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Justin & Mary Hoy
Justin and Mary are partners in the farm and the original impetus behind it all. Justin, who studied agriculture at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, UK and winemaking at Elsenburg College in Stellenbosch, South Africa is in charge of the farm and cellar. A wine-maker through and through, he hardly ever leaves his vines (though part of that is we don't like to let him off the farm.) His knowledge of wine is only surpassed by his indignation for vino snobbery; grab him for colorful tastings in his kilt. Mary, our "Highland Girl" hails from Scotland and undoubtedly looks better in our registered tartan than anyone else. She studied thoroughbred management at Witney in Oxford, UK and now runs the Deli and local sales. She keeps the whole farm and most of the valley fed, and you simply haven't had a chicken pie until you've had hers.
Michael White
Michael, a partner, was born, raised and schooled in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. He runs a very successful legal practice up there where he lives with his wife Sharon, and two children. Life is his passion, and with wine being an integral part of life, Michael found himself being drawn to the winelands where he met Justin and the crazy passion to start a wine label began. As is so often the case with great ideas, this blossomed into the purchasing of a farm, the building of a cellar, and ultimately the wine that is Highlands Road. Whispers in the corridors of justice say that Michael (the greatest ambassador of our wines) has been heard trying to sell a case or two to the judge in his closing arguments.
Peter and Judy Crawfurd
Peter and Judy are the Patriarch and Matriarch of the clan. Together with Michael, Justin and Mary, they bought the farm in 2004, as the fulfillment of a dream. Peter and Judy live and farm in Glenluce, SouthWest Scotland, and come out to Highlands Road Estate once a year to check up on their asset, make sure the wines meet their approval, and have a bit of a holiday a well. Peter has, until now, been looking after the wine sales in Scotland, where he has built up a successful and loyal clientèle who regularly come back for more. Being the very proud owner that he is, dinners and tasting in Scotland usually end up being a very social occasion.
Bob O’ Donohue
Bob joined as a partner in 2006. Originally hailing from Australia, he has spent most of his life galavanting around the world. We like to think of him as our international super star; you name it, and he has probably been there and done that. In addition to living in the Highlands of New Guinea and working in a gold dredge in Guyana, he has travelled through Africa three times. Bob looks after the day to day running and maintenance of the farm and can fix just about anything, though you never quite know what you will end up with. Undoubtedly our greatest character on the farm, see if you can't grab him for a glass of wine and a good old-fashioned Aussie "yarn."
