Contract Growing, Rare Varieties and Hawkes Bay with Ian Quinn from Two Terraces

This show was published Friday, May 15, 2026

Overview

What do you do when a French ampelographer walks into your vineyard and tells you that vines you thought were Gamay are actually Pinot Noir? You roll with it, apparently.

Ian Quinn spent 25 years in telecoms before leaving Hong Kong with his wife Linda to buy land in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and start a second career. In 2015 they started Two Terraces, planting 20 hectares across two stages (10 hectares in 2016, another 10 in 2018) and building a contract-growing business focused on quality over volume.

In this episode we get into the rare (for New Zealand) and lesser known varieties Ian grows, including Chenin Blanc and Gamay, why he chose contract growing over building his own wine brand, and what it really takes to farm a vineyard solo with a single tractor.

Oh and that accidental Pinot Noir. The winemakers love it. The story is even better - listen to the end.

Two Terraces - Hawkes Bay New Zealand
Host: Chris Scott
Guest: Ian Quinn

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