In this episode Daniel speaks with Craggy Range Winemaker, Juilan Grounds, Ata Rangi Vineyard Worker Huia Tibble and Palliser Chief Viticulturist and Winemaker, Guy McMaster. These are some diverse conversations culminating a four part mini series on the Wairarapa Region, a North Island Region that includes the appellations of Martinborough and TeMuna.

Nathan Maynard was born and bred in Martinborough. He has a career in hospitality and involvement with NZ wine for over 20 years. He is now working on projects to involved the greater Wairarapa wine community with the new Hau Ariki Marae in Martinborough.

Larry McKenna has some deep roots both in New Zealand wine and the Wairarapa. He was part of establishing Martinborough as one of NZ's premium wine regions in the early 1980s while at Martinborough Vineyards. In the late 90s he was part of the development of the new appellation , Te Muna Road while starting his own operation at Escarpment.

Daniel chats with winemakers Ben Trinick and Jannine Rickards about their upbringing, heritage, and what it means to be living and working in the Wairarapa. Ben is the Assistant Winemaker at Ata Rangi and Jannine is the winemaker at Urlar Vineyards and producers her own wines under 'The Huntress' label. These interviews were recorded in early August 2020. This podcast series is co produced with the Pinot Noir New Zealand 2022 Conference and is being sponsored by Wine Searcher. Go to...

Daniel introduces the new series, starting in the Wairararapa Wine Region and discusses the concepts of Tūrangawaewae, Kaitiakitanga, and Whanaungatanga with Ata Rangi Winemaker and Pinot Noir NZ 2022 Board Member, Helen Masters. This was recorded back in February of 2021 before the worldwide COVID-19 lockdowns. Since that time the conference has been postponed until 2022. This episode was sponsored by Wine Searcher. Go To www.winesearcher.com and download the app

Wilco Lam started his wine journey taking trips into France as a child with his family. Eventually that led him down to Australia and eventually New Zealand to pursue his passion. After completing his winemaking degree at Lincoln Univesity in Canterbury, Wilco was truly on his way. But his eye was always on Martinborough and to part of a production that made these premium, boutique wines. Wilco is now the chief winemaker at Dry River Wines. With plantings dating back to 1979, Dry River...

After a life in commerce and while living in London, Hugh Crighton had his epiphany in wine. He worked in vineyards in England only to come back to Aotearoa to study and work in the emerging winemaking scene. This eventually led him to Hawkes Bay where he has been the Chief Winemaker at the historic Vidal Estate in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand since 2004. Check out Vidal Estate at www.vidal.co.nz This episode is sponsored by www.decibelwines.com

Matt Thompson had been travelling back and forth, across hemispheres for years doing two harvests a year. One in his home country of New Zealand the one in Europe. He has now settled as a highly sought after consultant in Europe. But his journey's have really only led him back home where he met Sophie Parker. Sophie, amidst her own career of winemaking and YouTube Wine Reviews (As Lady Parker), found her match. Together they now produce Blank Canvas Wines, highly sought after expressions...

David Nash really discovered New Zealand wine while overseas in London, one of the world's greatest wine markets. By the time he returned to his home town of Auckland he was all in for New Zealand wine. This passion let him to not only work in the industry but to film and produce what is to date the best documentary on the New Zealand wine industry. 'A Seat At The Table' was released earlier this year to rave reviews and is currently playing around New Zealand and in the festival circuit...

Mary Therese Blair emigrated from Ireland to New Zealand to chase a dream of finding the world’s most exciting wine. Growing up in ‘the world’s smallest town’ somehow led her down a path of wanting to be a marine biologist only to discover that wasn’t quite her cup of tea. But the nickname Mermaid Mary stuck and she fell in love with New Zealand wine somewhere along the way. She is now on a mission to make sure millennials and younger drinkers don’t go down the hellish road of ‘RTDs’ and...

Anna Flowerday is busy, as busy as anyone you know. She is a winemaker and co-owner, with her husband Jason, of Te Whara Ra Winery Vineyard & Winery in Marlborough, New Zealand. She's also a mother of two sets of twins and is very active in the winegrower community, particularly around organic winegrowing. She speaks frequently on the subject including as one of the moderator's at this year's conference. She's also a big rugby fan. This episode is sponsored by Kauri Wine Innovation...

Georg Meissner has always wanted to combine the worlds of research and education with the practical. His experience and long term research with regards to biodynamic practices has him at the cutting edge of the wine industry while also having roots with philosopher and visionary, Rudolf Steiner, who gave eight lectures on agriculture in 1924 that are the basis of biodynamic farming. But this theory and practice must evolve and Georg is leading the way to find out exactly what this means...

Cynthea Semmens was born in San Francisco but she is all Tasmanian now. She moved there at the young age of 5 years with her Cyrpotic mother and American father who fell in love with a piece of land that is very special in Tasmania. It was the first real winery on the island, boasting its first cellar door licence and has pioneered some of the islands wine making and viticulture. Cynthea is on a path to organics and was attending the Organic and Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference in...

Emiliana Vineyards is the largest organic winery in the world. This Chilean operations spans 1000 kilometres from its norther most to southern most vineyards. They are pioneers in the wine world making both premium organic and biodynamically produced wines along with very affordable organic wines all of which are distributed in over 50 countries throughout the world. Sebastian Tramon is the company’s Sustainability Manager working with the operations and people from the beginning till the...

Emma Jenkins truly discovered her passion for wine in a place many of us do, a great wine shop. While working during the early heydays of one of New Zealand's great wine shops, Scenic Cellars in Taupo. It was during this time Emma met Bob Campbell MW and was encouraged by her peers and mentors to begin her examinations towards becoming an MW. She is now heavily involved in the MW education program, writes for the NZ publication of the Australian Women's Weekly, is co-editor of The...

Jen Parr’s journey to wine began in Oregon, but not with wine. Instead it started with a desire to help others and a love for the English language. But after meeting one of America’s poet laureates, Mayo Angelou, Jen was left with a quote that stuck with her for many years, it even haunted her. That quote eventually played out when Jen found a fascination with wine that led her around the world and eventually to Central Otago, where she is now the winemaker for Valli Wines. Check out...

Peter Cowley has been working at the famed TeMata Estate as a winemaker since 1983. As he approaches sem-retirement, he sits down with Daniel to reflect on his career, Hawkes Bay wine and his love of motorcycles and airplanes.

Chris Harrison and his Beach House Wines are on of New Zealand's wine success stories. Family built from the ground up, their wines continue to impress, winning gold medals and commercial success each year. Chris tells his story of building a business in Hawkes Bay. Check out www.beachhousewines.co.nz for more information. This episode is sponsored by www.decibelwines.com Click 'Shop Decibel Wines' and use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' to receive 10% of your first order.

Sanne Witteveen is a student of Wine Science and Viticulture at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She is a recent winner of both the student wine of the year and student scholarship at the Hawkes Bay Royal A&P Show. Haidee Johnson is a winemaker for Villa Maria and is the 2019 winner of the Hawkes Bay Young Winemaker of the Year Award. This episode is sponsored by the ‘Summer of Dove’ event at the Little Blackbird Eatery on Saturday December 15th at 5pm....

Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich is the Chief Winemaker of one of New Zealand's most iconic brands, Kumeu River, his family's estate located just outside of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island.  Their pioneering of winemaking, particularly Chardonnay, is second to none in New Zealand.  Michael has been apart of some of New Zealand Wine's biggest steps on the global stage.  To this day they continue to innovate now into Methode Traditionnelle production and new vineyards in Hawkes Bay. ...

Mike Bennie is a freelance wine and drinks writer, journalist and presenter based in Sydney, Australia. He is wine/drinks editor for Australia’s leading food magazine delicious. and Editor-At-Large and contributor/writer to Australia’s most interactive wine commentary website, WineFront.com.au. You can also find Mike's work in Sun-Herald Style Magazine, Wine Business Magazine along with many other publications locally and overseas. Mike is an active wine judge in Australia and overseas,...

Sydney is an ever evolving, exciting city with a vibrant food and drink scene. Rebecca Lines and Hamish Ingham have been working in the scene for over 14 years having run and own some of it's top spot. Now they own Banksii in the Barangaroo South district of Sydney and things are pumping. We thought we'd give you a full hour and tack on a short interview Daniel did with distiller Chris Reid in Martinborough earlier this year. This episode is sponsored by Kauriwine.com, specialists in...

Jo Burzynska, who also performs and records under the name Stanier Black-Five – is an Australasia-based sound artist and wine writer whose work in these areas has increasingly converged in the production of multisensory art. As a sound/multisensory artist she has exhibited, performed and released her work around the world, while in her role as an international wine critic and judge, she has written widely read wine columns and is the author of Wine Class: All You Need to Know About Wine in...

Jason Stent was born and raised in Hawkes Bay where he fell in love with wine and cycling. He spent many seasons in France cycling for an amateur team and falling more in love with wine, particularly Bordeaux wines. He returned with an invigorated passion to the Hawkes Bay wine industry and continues to shine as Paritua's chief winemaker, now producing some of NZ's most bespoke wines. This episode is sponsored by Kauriwine.com experts in organic yeast and winemaking...