A disappointing pay offer, a hail storm and a flock of geese all played roles in the establishment of a Whakatane fruit winery.

Tony Firmin has won awards for his White Goose range of fruit wines.

When Tony and Jutta Firmin emigrated from England 58 years ago, Tony’s first job was as a company representative.

“It was a great way to see the country but at the end of 12 months I told Jutta I would look for another job unless I was offered a one pound rise in salary,” says Tony.

The offer was less than a pound so Tony got a farming job, milking in a walk-through shed.

“I’d never milked a cow in my life,” says Tony.

Later the couple went sharemiking at Opotiki, eventually buying their own small farm near Awakeri 17 years ago.

There Jutta and Tony grew blueberries until a severe hailstorm one December destroyed the crop.

“I walked through the orchard looking at the damaged fruit and wondered if it could be used to make wine,” says Tony.

He took fruit to what was then called the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research wine making centre at Te Kawhata, where the blueberries were made into a very acceptable wine. So began White Goose winery.

The name comes from the white geese that graze the grass beneath the plum and feijoa trees, from which Tony makes wine. “The geese keep the grass down and fertilise the trees at the same time.”

White Goose Sparkling Trinity won the best sparkling wine trophy at the 2012 National Fruit Wine competition.

Blueberries no longer grow on the 3.75ha property but there are 1900 feijoa and about 60 plum trees, including three different varieties.

Fruit from the trees is sold fresh as well as processed into wine, and other fruit is brought in to make wines too.

“I did a wine making course through AIT, much of it by correspondence,” says Tony.

“I was the only fruit wine maker, and probably the oldest member of the class.”

Tony imported wine making equipment from Italy and Hawke’s Bay, and 17 years ago was licensed to make and sell wine.

All the wine making happens on-site in Luxton Rd, near Awakeri, and when ready for bottling is transported by Tony to Mills Reef Winery in Tauranga.

White Goose Winery has won a number of awards, including the best sparkling wine trophy at the 2012 National Fruit Wine competition for its Sparkling Trinity Wine made from boysenberries, strawberries and plums. White Goose winery is open most days for tastings, just off State Highway 30.

Plums from the Firmin property at Awakeri are used to make plum wine.