Nick Gardner is not your quintessential winemaker; he recently joined the Campbells of Rutherglen team after an illustrious 20-year culinary career.
Jane Campbell, managing director of Campbells Wines, said the fifth-generation winery saw great potential when hiring the award-winning chef as its assistant winemaker.
In 2013, the father-of-two received the Good Food Guide Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award.
“Nick is a great cultural fit for Campbells, he’s passionate and excited about his career change and the wine industry,” Jane says.
Before arriving at Campbells, Nick worked at a range of hatted and Michelin Star restaurants in Australia and across Europe.
“In addition to his viticulture and sommelier qualifications, Nick’s enthusiasm to learn our way of winemaking, under the mentorship of our winemakers Jules Campbell and Ian Diver, is warmly welcomed,” says Jane.
“There is a lot of opportunity for Nick at Campbells Wines, and once he has settled into his assistant winemaker role, he’s expressed interest to help us with our events menus and pairings for our wine tasting notes, which is of great value to our team and clientele.”
Besides being an expert in the kitchen, Nick also has experience as a small business owner.
Just prior to joining Campbells, Nick and his wife ran a deli/restaurant and wine bar for seven years in Kangaroo Valley in the NSW Southern Highlands.
“However, family life drew us to the border region, but I’m really enjoying my new career direction and lifestyle,” Nick says.
“I am blown away by the broad spectrum of Campbells wines.
“A lot of people love the full-bodied reds, but I think Campbells whites are equally as impressive, right through to the world-famous fortified wines.”
When it comes to his new role, the aspiring winemaker says he is excited to learn and is determined to play his role in maintaining the consistency and quality of Campbells wines.
“Securing the customer’s seal of approval is important,” says Nick.
Campbells Wines, which will celebrate its 155th anniversary in 2025, also welcomes two other new starters – Lee Dashiell as its cellar door manager and Izaac Cameron as maintenance manager.
Lee, a former magazine creative director and graphic designer, who hails from New York, joins Campbells from All Saints winery in nearby Wahgunyah, where he worked as the cellar door manager.
Lee says he was attracted to Campbells because he could combine his two passions into one role – quality wine and graphic design.
Izaac, a boilermaker by trade, joins the family winery after six and a half years at JC Butko Engineering in Wodonga.
“As a Rutherglen local, I have always had great exposure to Muscat, and I really enjoy a glass or two of Campbells Bobbie Burns Shiraz,” he says.