Family Affair
Meet The Williams
Tresillian Truffles is a family business, with a shared vision to be creative and innovative in developing premium truffle products using locally sourced ingredients.
Everyone is involved: Sarah works Bess the dog, Lisa is the harvester, Samantha truffle cleaner and packing, Stephen is the tree pruner, irrigation fixer. If anyone is away we can all step up as required, team work at its best!
Maintance
Truffiere Facelift
Tresillian Truffles is located in West Melton on what started as the Tresillian sheep run in 1851. The sandy soils make it difficult to grow pastures but provide the optimum environment for the Bianchetto Truffle.
After purchasing the property in 2017, we, the Williams family, refined the truffierre by giving the trees a facelift. The pine trees, hazelnut trees, and oak trees which the truffle grow on were pruned, allowing more light to reach the truffles. Along with Selwyn’s free-draining soils and the addition of lime, it was the perfect environment for the Bianchetto Truffle to grow.
It is a family effort, everyone pitches in to remove the branches during pruning. With Stephen on the chainsaw, Lisa and the girls carry and mulch the branches which gets used around the garden.
Optimum conditions for growing truffles means a PH of 7 is require. Testing showed that the existing PH was 5.9 and so twenty tonnes of lime was spread on the block, and about 3 tonnes have been spread in subsequent years.
Our Values
We value integrity. Our aim is to provide honest, helpful, reliable service to our customers.
We value people. Our aim is to build long and strong relationships with our customers.
Our Vision
To be creative and innovative in developing premium truffle products using locally sourced ingredients.
Maintaining an organic approach to farming truffles sustainably.
To provide a rewarding and satisfying experience for our customers discovering the mystique around truffles.
To provide excellent customer service through our unique truffle experiences.
Leader in supplying quality truffles and truffle products internationally.
Our Mission
Our mission is to share our family’s authentic truffle experiences and products with the world.
mum
Meet Lisa
Lisa is a mover and shaker who is passionate about all things truffles!
Lisa has a wealth of knowledge and is backbone to the company.
Lisa wears many hats at Tresillian Truffles, from the truffillio harvesting, cleaning and preparing truffles to guest speaking and testing and trialling new products.
“I love the mystique that surrounds truffles, and the challenges and tribulations that go hand in hand with growing truffles”
Dad
Meet Stephen
Stephen keeps the truffiere in tip top shape, from pruning trees, mowing the truffiere to all-round maintenance his attention to detail allows the truffiere to thrive.
After a long day you will often find him sitting on the deck with a cold beer in hand!
“I am looking forward to making and tasting the truffle Vodka”
DAUGHTER
Meet Sarah
Sarah is never afraid to try something new, from new training techniques to testing new truffle recipes, she is the ultimate risk taker!
Sarah is our dog trainer and loves truffle hunting with Bess.
Sarah is often sitting in front of the fire with Bess and a pen and paper!
“I was so excited finding the first truffles to be harvested from under the oak trees with Bess. If there are truffles to be found, Bess and I will detect them underground.”
Daughter
Meet Samantha
Samantha is the behind the scenes wonder woman, she makes things happen!
From organising events, planning new products, no stoned is left unturned when Samantha is on the job!
Samantha is always keen for a truffle hunt with Buff, and together they make the perfect team!
“I am so proud of Buff in how quickly he has taken to truffle hunting. It is like a treasure hunt underground, I am never quite sure what he is going to find and where.”
Dog
Meet Bess
Truffle dog by day, family dog by night. Bess is the first to race to the truffierre but always enjoys nestling by the fire after a long day.
Bess’s nose is always on the ground, whether she is sniffing out a truffle or finding the next rabbit to chase.
“I would never let on, but I love my truffling job”
Dog
Meet Buff
Buff, although a bit clumsy at times and often running into people with excitement, is eager to find truffles and loves a good game of fetch.
Buff takes after his mum (Bess) with his love of truffles and hunting.
“I may take after my Mum (Bess) but the hazel nuts are my truffling domain”
Reviews
What Our Customers Say
Catheryn Murray
Truffle Hunter
“What an amazing delicious truffle evening! The food was outstanding and exceeded our expectations. We loved how informative and professional the degustation evening was. Our knowledge about truffles and wine has grown immensely. Thanks Lisa and the team for an incredible night. We can’t wait to come back and do it again next season. “
Jorgiana
Truffle Hunter
“We still cannot believe how quick Bess was at locating the truffles, having been on several truffle hunts in Europe and walked for hours in hopes of finding a truffle (and not finding any).
I was blown away at the bounty that was collected in an extremely short time. I was so nervous when digging up the truffles, but Lisa assured and coached me through the digging process finding a 50 gram truffle was the highlight of our afternoon. Great people, awesome dog, fabulous food, unique experience highly recommend.”
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3/377 Halkett Road, West Melton, Christchurch, NZ