Hay Shed Hill|Margaret River|Premium Wines

Michael Kerrigan

Managing Director/Winemaker

The new owner/winemaker of Hay Shed Hill has come with a long history of making some of the most respected wines in Australia. Twelve years as the Winemaker of Howard Park and Madfish Wines has put Michael Kerrigan in the company of the most respected winemakers in the country.

It was a circuitous route to winemaking for Michael; “I was a radiographer for many years but had a passion for wine but never really thought I could actually do it as a job!” Leith Pavlinovich, Michael’s wife, from the traditional grape growing and winemaking Swan Valley in Western Australia encouraged – or lets say pushed Michael into applying for entry into Roseworthy College in South Australia; the premier wine education establishment in Australia. Michael excelled at Roseworthy and was Dux of the year winning virtually all the academic awards on offer. “It is amazing what you can do when you are interested in something”.

Michael was offered the position of Assistant Winemaker at Howard Park in 1994, and quickly ascended to be Chief Winemaker by 1999, a position he held until his departure in late 2006 to take up ownership of Hay Shed Hill. “Howard Park allowed me a marvellous opportunity to look at such a wide range of fruit from all over Western Australia and make wine across all price points.” In his time at Howard Park Michael received numerous accolades for the wines including nomination for Qantas Winemaker of the Year in 2003.

The opportunity to get involved with Hay Shed Hill was one that Michael could not let pass. “I knew the vineyard and always coveted the fruit, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to take ownership in a really classic old Margaret River vineyard in the elite of Margaret River vineyards but one which, for various reasons, had not quite realized it’s potential.”

“I am so excited to be involved as winemaker, partner in the Hay Shed Hill vineyard and wines, we are going to take this place where it has not been before – look out we are going to make some top class wines.”

Bonnie Tollafield

Sales & Marketing Manager

Bonnie recently joined Hay Shed Hill having previously spent 20 years in the industry at MGM Wine Distributors and Howard Park Wines in sales and marketing positions. She is interested in all things wine and particularly enjoys as much Champagne and Tuscan wine as her hip pocket will allow. She is an avid swimmer and participates in the annual Rottnest Channel Swim. You can find her at North Cottesloe most days of the year … rain, hail or shine!!

Bonnie is responsible for the sales and marketing of Hay Shed Hill & Pitchfork Wines and oversees the distribution, communication and relationship management of these brands with all stakeholders.

Nick Stacy

Sales & Marketing USA

Nick Stacy’s involvement with wine began with a memorable glass of Western Australian Cabernet Sauvignon given to him by his father at a barbeque when he was only 14. His fascination with the local drop quickly developed in to a somewhat ‘underage’ cellar by the time Nick was 17 – and since then he hasn’t looked back. While his passion for buying Grange Hermitage at $40.00 a bottle horrified his father, the selling of Australia’s top drop ten years later at $350.00 quickly eased the pain…

After spending almost 8 years managing restaurants & bars around Australia, Nick returned to Perth in 1991 and in 1993 created ‘Western Wines’, a specialist wine distributor. Over the next 10 years, Nick was involved with launching and marketing some of Australia’s most premium wine producers, including Howard Park, Madfish Bay, Xanadu, d’Arenberg, West Cape Howe and ironically, Hay Shed Hill.

In 2001, Nick sold Western Wines to Tucker Seabrook and after a brief 2 year stint as National Brand Manager, joined West Cape Howe as Sales & Marketing Manager in late 2003, a position he still holds today.

Apart from his vices (sports cars, designer clothes, women and dirty vodka martini’s), Nick’s infectious enthusiasm, relaxed professionalism and wealth of industry experience (combining all sectors of the liquor industry) have made him an asset to Hay Shed Hill & Pitchfork wines as our Sales & Marketing Manager.