The VinPro Winery was established in Cromwell in 2004, and produced its first vintages in 2005 under the leadership of winemaker Carol Bunn. It has a total processing capacity of 800 tonnes and around 85% of that is for Pinot Noir.

There are many small family-owned vineyards in the area, and utilising the local community’s contract wine-making facility such as Vinpro makes sense for many of them, particularly in terms of sustainability. Vinpro has a great reputation, with many trophy-winning wines stemming from the company.

The VinPro winery staff work as a team, providing a ‘Continuity of Excellence’ which ensures knowledge about the unique terroir for each vineyard, their grapes and the winemaking history is shared. There’s a constant flow of exchange between our viticultural team at Wooing Tree, and the winemaking team at VinPro. Consequently, there is a continued and consistent quality between vintages as much as possible given the complexities and nature of making great wine.

Peter Bartle was Wooing Tree’s head winemaker from 17 May 2010 – 2019. Following on from Pete’s success our head winemaker from 2019 – 2024  was Pip Battley. Pip was awarded many accolades for her wines at Wooing Tree, including New Zealand International Wine Show Trophy winner for the Rose 2024.

From 2025 – to present our head Winemaker is Austin Black, Austin is a passionate Senior Winemaker at VinPro with a deep connection to the land and a commitment to crafting expressive, terroir-driven wines. His journey began when he relocated from his native Ireland to New Zealand in 2006, pursuing Wine Science studies at Auckland University and immersing himself in the world of winemaking.

With nearly two decades of global experience—including time spent honing his craft in Burgundy, Austria, the USA, and Australia—Austin has developed a distinctive style shaped by his international perspective. However, it is in Central Otago, with notable roles at Chard Farm, Terra Sancta, and Prophet’s Rock, that he has truly found his winemaking home.

Fuelled by a passion and a belief in the magic of Central Otago’s rugged beauty, Austin strives to create wines that reflect the soul of the vineyard. “There is nowhere quite like Central Otago – it is a magical place to live and make wine in,” he says, inspired daily by the unique people, landscapes, and energy of the region.