CHAIRMAN

John’s contribution to the New Zealand wine industry extends well beyond his role at Te Mata Estate. John was involved in wine judging in both Australia and New Zealand for many years, first joining the National Tasting Panel in 1969. In 1979, he was made Chairman of Judges for the National Wine Show, the first New Zealander to be appointed to the position.  While he is currently Chairman of the Hawkes Bay Opera House, he also served as Chairman of Hawkes Bay Vintners in the 1980s, and from 1991 to 1996 as Chairman of the New Zealand Wine Institute.

In 1990, John was awarded the Commemoration Medal for Services to New Zealand, and in 1995 an OBE for services to the wine industry, and a Fellowship of the Wine Institute of New Zealand in 2000.

But of all John’s achievements, perhaps his most notable was his marriage to Wendy in 1964. John and Wendy have three sons, Jonathan, Nicholas and Toby; six grandchildren; and a golf handicap not to be sneezed at! It is his role as grandfather and golfer that will keep John busy well into retirement.