Meet the Tinwood Estate Team
While Tinwood Estate is owned by husband and wife Art and Jody Tukker, the Tinwood family is constantly growing. Jake and Joshua (pictured below) are our third-generation farmers. The Tinwood Team comprises Tour Hosts, Office Staff, Tasting Room Assistants, Chefs, and Vineyard Workers. You may also meet our estate labradors, Bubbles and Fizz.
Art Tukker Owner of Tinwood Estate
Art Tukker is a second-generation Farmer who took over the Estate in 2006. Art studied farming and agriculture at university before spending a year in Marlborough with Mike Allen, the owner of Huia vineyards. He took a real love to the viticulture and growing side of the vines and decided to change the Estate from a lettuce farm to a vineyard.
Jody Tukker Owner of Tinwood Estate
Originally from the Netherlands, Jody and Art got married in 2017. They had their first son Jake in 2020, and their second son Joshua in 2023. While Art focuses more on the viticulture, Jody looks after our Tasting Room and events. Jody is responsible for many of the design elements you at Tinwood Estate including our flute chandeliers and cork headboards in the lodges, and she is also a beekeeper!
Vlada Sotnikova Tasting Room Manager
Vlada began working at Tinwood Estate in 2018 and is a true asset to the team. As the Tasting Room Manager, her role includes hosting our daily tours, managing and training staff, organising events, and more. Vlada has many years of experience in hospitality and has become a friend to many of Tinwood’s regular customers.
Jade Reynolds Tasting Room Assistant Manager
Jade grew up in Tangmere, so watched Tinwood transition into a vineyard. She has over 10 years of experience as a rep and tour host. A jack of all trades, she has also previously been a presenter, wedding organiser, and is our in-house yoga instructor too! You can take part in Yoga in the Vines, throughout the summer.
Janine van Nieuwkerk Trade Manager
Janine is the Tinwood Trade Manager, but also Art’s sister. The very first bottle of Tinwood was opened in Janine’s kitchen, providing a unique perspective of the Tinwood story. She often spends her days travelling around Sussex delivering wine, or meeting with local bar and restaurant owners.
Amy Stanborough Marketing Manager
Amy began working at Tinwood Estate in 2023. Her role includes creating content for and running our social media channels, designing and updating the website, designing branded promotional materials and more. Amy occasionally hosts vineyard tours.
Lisa Gough Office Manager
Lisa is our longest reigning member of staff. She originally worked at Tinwood with first-generation farmer, Aad Tukker, when it was a lettuce farm. Lisa has watched Art grow up and transform Tinwood into a vineyard. Her knowledge and experience on the estate is greatly valued.
TASTING ROOM ASSISTANTS
Holly Chapman – Tour Host
Holly joined us at Tinwood in summer 2023, and can be seen helping out in our Tasting Room, or you may be lucky enough to experience one of Holly’s vineyard tours.
Georgia Punter – Tour Host
Georgia is one of our lovely Tour Hosts, and Tasting Room Assistants. She is currently working with us while completing her university degree in Primary School Education.
Molly Wilby – The muscles of our team, as Molly also works as a gymnastic coach. A friendly and familiar face to our weekend customers, Molly is most likely found enjoying a bottle of Tinwood rose on her day off.
Gaby Fairbrass – Our lovely Gaby is always seen smiling, pouring wine for our customers, or occassionally helping the housekeeping team.
Caiden Robinson – The man of the team, who is put in charge of carrying our huge Sharing Board platters! Hardworking, and always there to help our customers.
VINEYARD KITCHEN TEAM
Shaun Mustard Head Chef
You may recognise Shaun as the previous owner of Mustards restaurant, and we are very excited to introduce him as the newest member of the Tinwood family.
Stuart Taylor – An asset to our team, Stuart is also an exceptional chef who has worked in some well-acclaimed restaurants including stockists of Tinwood, The Fox Goes Free and The Royal Oak in Lavant. Stuart also worked at Woodies back in the 90s!
Kieran Bolton – Kieran worked at the Crab & Lobster – a two-rosette hotel and one of the first Tinwood stockists! He also worked to strengthen the kitchen team at The Bat and Ball to help them gain a rosette.
Cesar Vasquez – Cesar has spent many years in the colourful culinary city of Barcelona. Before working at Tinwood Estate, he worked at The Swan, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.
Erika – One of our newest members of staff, Erika is our wonderful kitchen-porter. Previously a Head Chef, Erika loves to work in a kitchen environment, but loves to produce a clean and organised kitchen environment even more!
HOUSE-KEEPING TEAM
Clare Miles – Clare has been working with us since our lodges first opened in 2016. She has a very high standard of cleanliness so our Tasting Room and lodges are always spotless. Clare often helps with pouring wine during our tours, and generally making sure everything is neat and organised.
Emily – Emily generally works weekends, also making sure our lodges and Tasting Room are immaculate for those sold out evenings, and ready for a busy week.
VINEYARD TEAM
Oliver White – Oliver has been with us since Tinwood was an iceberg lettuce farm! He is a very valued member of staff with a wealth of knowledge about machinery and agriculture.
John Udall – John is our Assistant Vineyard Manager, and is working closely with Art to maintain the health of our vines. As our vines age, it is John’s responsibility to ensure our vines continue to produce healthy fruits. He is also responsible for keeping our vineyard team in check!
Marcio, Helder, Chico, Scott, Gonzalo
Our wonderful vineyard team work tirelessly throughout the year to look after and maintain the vines. Throughout winter, the guys are busy pruning, then April comes and the vines go through ‘bud burst’ which means a lot of frost-damage prevention. The vines are sprayed and controlled throughout summer, before Harvest in September/October. Some of these boys have been with us for over a decade!
