the not serious Ben Leen

Ben Leen is the winemaker at Amisfield winery in Central Otago but it is his side project, Alpine Wine Co. that we really wanted to talk about.  Ben’s hands-on, small batch production is matched with his big energy sales skills. He’s a winemaker who loves showing his wine and that enthusiasm is contagious which is why you’ll find his wines poured at some top places like Hello Beasty or Salty Pidgin when stocks allow. 

It's fair to say that if wine had its own cupid, that little archer has hit a bullseye when it comes to our Ben. He’s fallen head over heels for the romantic vision of a life spent making and enjoying wine. Those simple ideas of slowing life right down, working with the land and living a life of purpose fuelled by great cheese and delicious wine. What we love about Ben’s side project is it combines all that old world romance with a lot of new world curiosity. And he’s doing it with the whānau. Wife, Lucy, brother Josh and Josh’s wife, Kiri are all involved in Alpine Wine Co. too. 

Ben is an enthusiastic, driven guy ready to share the love of it all with us. Heck, he even called one of his wines ‘head over heels’ he’s that besotted — and quite rightly. It appears he’s living the dream and if I’m honest, it was hard not fall a little more in love with this whole wine malarkey just chatting to him. 

So, pour yourself a dreamy drop of something fitting for a first date and lie back on the chaise lounge. This is the not serious Ben Leen 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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