Ben and Frances Wickham, owners of Ormond Nurseries, were recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Marlborough Wine Show celebration dinner. Their decades-long contribution to the region's wine industry through the supply of high-quality grapevines has played a key role in the success of Marlborough as a premier wine-growing region.
Ormond Nurseries, a NZPPI member, is renowned for its exceptional plant production, specialising in producing healthy, robust grapevines tailored to thrive in New Zealand's unique conditions. Ben and Frances have been at the forefront of supporting vineyard success through innovation and meticulous care in plant propagation. Their dedication to quality and sustainability has earned them the respect of both local and international growers, helping to elevate the Marlborough wine industry to world-class status.
This was the quote from the Marlborough Wine Show release:
"Ben and Frances Wickham have led the way when it comes to grape propagation in Marlborough, relocating Ormond Nurseries here in 1995, following 18 years doing the same work in Gisborne. The couple has continued to innovate, establishing a vertically integrated nursery facility capable of producing two million vines a year, designed to assist with strict biosecurity protocols. The couple is a powerful duo, with Ben the 50-year nursery man and Frances the business instincts."
NZPPI congratulates Ben and Frances on their well-earned recognition.
To learn more about Ormond Nurseries and their contributions, visit Ormond Nurseries' website.