Succession — it’s not just one of the best tele shows ever created, it’s also something of a challenge when it comes to the wine world of Aotearoa. I recently wrote a piece on how the future of NZ wine might need to look a lot more collaborative as opposed to inherited, and as if to really double down on the idea, our guests for today have embraced both. They’ve only gone and collaborated to make a really special, actually quite spectacular, wine together from the magical fruits of the Two Terraces Vineyard in Hawkes Bay under the Three Fates label. 

Of course, I’m talking about Holly Girven Russell and her dad, Gordon Russell. 

These two are a total delight and, as we chatted away, Holly challenged her Pops to a blind tasting of what turned out to be - his very own wine. Did he guess what it was? Did he even guess that he made it? Did any of us manage to guess it? Well, no spoilers but suffice to say the wine was a great nod to Gordo’s experimental and creative wine career. 

Gordon has worked as winemaker at one of New Zealand’s most respected wine estates for over 30 years and he's an innovator. He spent his winemaking life getting all experimental with new wine varieties and blends that contributed to the evolution of NZ wine. And he played a lot of vinyl. He reckons he just missed the Punk era but to be frank, it feels like Gordo is adept at embracing a bit of counter culture. 

As if London is some sort of portal to a wine career for this family, Holly was off to live the bright lights, big city life in London town herself and with some wine hook ups from her Dad, she ended up working as part of the wine buying team for Marks & Sparks.

Fast forward to 2025 Holly is now a winemaker, making wine in Hawkes Bay on her own terms which has culminated in a role at Decibel Wines and as one Fate of the truly wonderful, explorative, collaborative wine brand Three Fates which Holly started with pals, Hester Nesbitt & Casey Motley.

Just like a map of London, this chat departs down side streets and little lanes of family memories, shared experience and how making a wine together has created an incredible opportunity that both Father and Daughter have each brought their own inimitable style and panache.

So old chaps, pull your A to Z map book and your tube pass from your satchel, pour yourself a jolly crisp refreshment and Mind the Gap, this is the not serious Holly Girven Russell and Gordon Russell chat. 

not serious wine chats would like to thank our supporters:
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Special thanks to my pal, Benj Brooking of Popular.nz for his help with the editing. An expert filmmaker, editing these chats is being done as one mate helping another. Thanks Benj. You're a legend.

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