Winemaker Erica Crawford

Erica Crawford began her career as a scientist in cardiac medicine in S. Africa, but it was her self-taught skills as an exporter and marketer that saw her rise to prominence in New Zealand. Nearly 20 years later, those skills, experiences as well as her ethical beliefs were brought to bear in a wide range of professional and cause-related pursuits. For 9 years, Erica and Kim forged a brand and then sold their company to a North American beverage giant. Loveblock heralds their return to the industry. Erica says, “We made the decision to tackle organics, a cause that is deeplypersonal to me. This philosophy was anchored when life forced me to examine the chemical nature of our immediate environment.” Today, Erica manages the family’s wine interests with the same sense of vision, but within a completely different paradigm. The Loveblock estate holds a farm and vineyards in Marlborough and Central Otago where vineyards are either certified organic or are on a low-intervention regime.