What’s New, What’s Next?

This seminar is a ‘deep dive’ into what is happening behind the scenes in the cellars of New Zealand. What are some of the new practices being implemented in the vineyard and the winery? And what can we expect to see in our markets in the next 12 months? We explore a series of categories and engage our winemaker panelists in a discussion around their current relevance, both in the New Zealand market and beyond.

Topics

1. Lighter / Low / No Alcohol
2. Alternative Varieties
3. Organic / Biodynamic / Vegan
4. Natural / Orange
5. Rosé 
6. New Winemaking Styles

Each panelist gave their perspectives on these hot topics. 

Emma Jenkins MW

Emma tastes, writes, judges, teaches, consults and thinks about wine, both in New Zealand and abroad. When not doing this, she spends her time chasing children and animals around an overgrown garden. She also used to travel a lot.

Amy Farnsworth 
Amoise Wines

I first stumbled down the wine rabbit hole during my years working in the Vancouver hospitality and wine retail scene. In 2009 I came to work in Central Otago, where I fell in love with biodynamic farming. In Burgundy I completed my diploma in Viticulture & Winemaking. 

After several harvests in France, Australia, Italy & Canada I came back to my home in NZ. In 2018 through the support of my family and amazing wine community produced my first wine. I work with certified organic grapes sourced locally in Hawke's Bay.

Dr John Forrest
Forrest Wines

Co-owner of Forrest Wines , Marlborough  ; established 1988. Marlborough educated at Queen Charlotte College , Picton  & PhD in Neuro- Physiology from Otago Medical School. Member of NZ Winegrowers research committee 1988- 2003. Founding member of NZ Screwcap Initative 2001. Founding member  of NZ Lighter Wines 2012. Founding member of Appelation Marlborough Wines 2017.

Jules Taylor
Winemaker/Owner at Jules Taylor Wines

Born in Marlborough in the year the first vines were planted, Jules has literally grown up with Sauvignon Blanc. Deeply invested in the region and its grape growing families, she has made some of Marlborough’s best known and successful wines.

After completing a degree in Viticulture at Lincoln University in Christchurch, Jules explored other winemaking regions around the globe, working numerous vintages in Italy and Australia.

Several life-affirming vintages in Piedmont and Sicily underscored Jules’ love of wine as a simple pleasure to be enjoyed alongside good food and great friends. Jules strongly believes wine should be more about creating great memories and less about status or cellaring potential.

On her return home, Jules worked her way to Group Senior Winemaker at one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed wineries, before starting her own label on the side in 2001 with just 200 cases. Five years, two children and many, many late nights later, George and Jules took the nail-biting decision to put everything on the line, jack in their day jobs, and give their dream a shot.

Nicholas Brown
Winemaker and co owner of Black Estate.

With his partner Pen Naish, Nicholas co-owns and manages Black Estate. Nic looks after the vineyards and wines and the Black Estate team, and Nic’s family even grew some of the first commercial table grapes in New Zealand.

Rosie Menzies
Carrick Wines

Rosie Menzies joined Carrick in late 2018. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, Rosie’s interest in wine was sparked by her charismatic 6th form chemistry teacher, who tasked students with making their own wine as a special project. Inspired to make it her career, she completed the Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University in 2007. Since graduating, Rosie has worked at some of the world’s finest producers – Craggy Range (Hawke’s Bay), Seresin (Marlborough), GD Vajra (Piemonte, Italy), Chapoutier (Rhone Valley), and Cristom (Oregon).

The 2020 vintage marks her first harvest at Carrick as Chief Winemaker.

Rudi Bauer
Quartz Reef

Austrian-born Rudi Bauer is the winemaker at Quartz Reef winery in Central Otago.

Born in Salzburg, Rudi gained his degree in viticulture and winemaking in Austria and Germany before coming to New Zealand in 1985 on a 6 month working visa. Here he fell in love with the country, the wine and a “Kiwi girl” (not necessarily in that order of significance) and the net result has been the New Zealand wine industry’s gain!

Rudi’s infectious enthusiasm for his craft, coupled with his wickedly dry Austrian/Kiwi sense of humour, guarantee that his Masterclass tastings are as entertaining as they are informative.