Core Values

“Business as a force for good.”

A phrase used by many before us “business as a force for good” is at the centre of our core values. Being a new company, FermLabs has the unique position to develop its processes and initiatives around this value from the beginning. We have three main areas we are focussing on from day one to live up to this statement. 1. Empowering people 2. Decreasing waste streams. 3. Giving back to the community. To learn more of how we are achieving this please follow the link below.

Our Team

Tucker Mattern

Tucker’s love of wine and passion for the Central Otago region has culminated in a desire do his part to support this local wine community. Tucker brings experience from overseas, a Masters in Viticulture & Oenology, local winemaking and viticulture experience and a keen sense for innovation. Tucker heads up the FermLabs team as founder and Director.

Erin Newton

Erin brings a wealth of technical expertise and leadership experience to her role at FermLabs. Her career began in food laboratories, but it was her move to Marlborough that sparked a long and successful journey in the wine industry.

She first joined Pernod Ricard, where she managed the laboratory and led several efficiency‑driven improvements that strengthened operations and workflow. Erin then continued to refine her management style and technical capabilities as Lab Manager at Whitehaven, again implementing practical changes that enhanced the lab’s performance.

Her next chapter took her to Saint Clair, where she continued to streamline processes and elevate lab operations through her strong intuition, hands‑on experience, and commitment to continuous improvement.

Now coming to Central Otago, Erin is excited to bring her extensive background to FermLabs, where she will oversee laboratory operations and help drive the next phase of growth and innovation. Outside of work, she remains passionate about horses—a lifelong interest that reflects her dedication, focus, and steady determination.