That was back in the mid-1990s when she was selling French oak barrels to winemakers and tasting wines from various barrels with them - something she continues to do.
Realising the potential of the region and wanting to be part of it, she enticed her husband John Montero, a winemaker in California, to visit. He had been making pinot noir and other varieties in Carneros and the Anderson Valley, but the couple wanted to develop their own vineyard where they could have complete control from the vine to the wine - always in partnership with mother nature, she added with a laugh.
In 2002, they found their land, a 16ha peninsula-shaped terrace that juts out above the surrounding slopes at the base of the Pisa Range, that was formerly part of Mount Pisa Station. They loved the views of Lake Dunstan and the Pisas and a Sequoia tree on the slopes below them reminded them of California.
"It's our own little island. The soils are quite different from those below and above. Soil pits show remarkable variation and possibility of flavour difference," she said.
Driving up the slope to their Pisa Terrace Vineyard, we passed through outer and inner rabbit fences to the organically farmed vineyard. The vines have stronger immune systems and resist disease better since they have converted fully to organics, she says.
The Monteros have planted 7ha of various clones of pinot noir, which, while they are young, bring different characteristics to the wine - dark fruits, or brighter red fruit characters, but as the vines age they expect the character of the vineyard to predominate over the clonal differences.
A block of young riesling on the north-facing slopes will produce its first wine this year, although crops are low as wind during flowering disrupted fruit set.
Pinot noir, which flowers a week earlier, set prolifically and some large bunches bursting with tight berries will have to be dropped to ensure the rest ripen fully.
This season is early. Central Otago producers usually harvest around Easter, but Easter is very late this year, and Roberta says the harvest looks as though it will be a whole lunar cycle earlier.
Beyond the grapes, at the edge of the terrace, they have a fenced vegetable garden where they grow many of the US and Mexican favourites which they find they can't do without - hot chilli peppers of various kinds, squash, tomatillos, lots of corn and several varieties of tomato. Although they have their garden here, and plan to move here eventually, they live in Cromwell, because there is no broadband available up the Wanaka road. Roberta says she cannot manage without a fast connection for her barrel distribution business.
Both keen on fresh, local produce, the Monteros have watched the region develop since the mid-1990s. A wine region comes of age and its reputation takes off once fine dining arrives, Roberta says.
"Chefs encourage local producers which leads to farmers markets and then supermarkets have to up the ante. We saw that in Napa and we are seeing it repeated here."
They love being here, not only for the view and the vineyard, but they appreciate the generosity and friendliness of the locals.
"When we came to the area it was all about potential. We were starting to see some great wines and we loved that people would help each other and work together. They embrace the concept that if they all work together they will be successful eventually. There's a sense of sharing in the pinot noir community," she said
Most of their grapes are sold to other producers, but from 2008 they made a small quantity of their own wine under the Ellero label - a blend of their family names.
The Ellero Pinot Noir 2008 is powerful and stylish, with silky texture and a savoury undertone, while the '09 is concentrated, with a lovely long finish, again the savoury undertone under the rich fruit.
They also make a gewurztraminer from some of the oldest vines in Bannockburn. The 2010 is fragrant, textural and firm, avoiding the overblown rosé character of some northern ones and therefore delicious with food.
Ellero wines are available for tasting and sale from The Lazy Dog at Queensberry or www.otagowine.com.
