The Story

Catalyst Fruit Wines had its beginnings as a hobby in a dinky pink kitchen in a wee house called Plum Tree Cottage on the outskirts of a drive-by town called Eketāhuna...

Using the produce from the properties massive fruit trees (the cottage is over 100 years old) SandRa Timmins, homeschooling mama of three, made every mistake possible but still managed to make a drinkable batch of wine.

This gal loves a challenge, and she was hyped!

 SandRa was brought up in sunny Nelson and had gardening instilled in her from a young age.  So whilst she was tinkering in the kitchen experimenting with winemaking, she was running a business called Stoney Ground Herbs, growing and sending medicinal and fragrant herbs throughout NZ.

It was somewhat successful, covid made it a bit hard (couldn't courier plants), the website needed a major overhaul, and the seven year itch was getting scratchy; a change was brewing.

Not feeling ready to own the winemaker title, SandRa thought that in another 10 years she ought to have the space, time and equipment to be able to start a fruit wine business.  But then a catalyst happened.

 An UN Environmental Report came out in 2021.

It made it pretty clear that the worlds climate was pretty mucked up and if we keep going on the same trajectory then life on planet earth will not be a pretty picture in 10 years time, perhaps not even a picture in 12.

Well.  

No time to muck about with dreams in 10 years time then!

So started the bureaucratic journey of becoming a legit winemaker and seller, (if you're interested in that rigmarole you can read about it in the blog on this website).

By early 2023 Catalyst Fruit Wines was launched!

There have been highs and lows, doubts and confidence, blessings, setbacks and many many lessons.  It is still very much a journey, and growth is as organic as the fruit the wine is made from.  But with support from her family, friends and community, SandRa is thankful for all of it and so excited for what's to come.

 You can follow the journey of Catalyst Fruit Wines through Instagram and Facebook, you'll be in for a rollicking good time!