Greystone Winemaker Named New Zealand’s Winemaker Of the Year 2018!
Dom Maxwell, of Greystone Wines, won the inaugural Gourmet Traveller WINE “New Zealand Winemaker of the Year 2018” title at Auckland’s Hilton Hotel last night.
New Zealand Editor of Gourmet Traveller WINE, and chair of judges, Bob Campbell (Master of Wine) said Dom’s fusion of traditional winemaking and ground-breaking techniques earned him the accolade, which propels him into New Zealand’s winemaking history.
“This award acknowledges Maxwell’s thoughtful and often innovative winemaking practices and his contribution to the wider wine industry both directly and by example,” said chair of judges Bob Campbell MW.
This is the first year Gourmet Traveller WINE has run the award in New Zealand and the 20th year it has run in Australia. Bob Campbell chaired the judging panel alongside two of our country’s most esteemed wine judges and critics, Raymond Chan and Cameron Douglas (Master Sommelier).
In accepting the award, Dom said he was “honoured, humbled and surprised” and thanked his team for the support and dedication over the past 14 years.
“We have an exceptionally talented industry of winemakers in New Zealand, so it’s incredibly humbling to be awarded this title,” said Dom.
“I can’t emphasise enough how grateful I am for my team and how proud I am to be part of this amazing wine region. North Canterbury makes up just 3% of New Zealand’s total wine production, so we all share a fervent determination to make the best and most genuine wines possible.”
The prestigious award from Gourmet Traveller WINE continues from a very successful 2017 for Dom and the Greystone team. In December, Greystone won the gong “Best Chardonnay in New Zealand” by the world’s leading wine publication, Decanter Magazine, and took out a gold medal for their Sauvignon Blanc at the Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters 2017 Awards. Decanter Magazine also ranked Greystone’s 2016 Pinot Gris as one of the most exciting wines in the world in their annual “75 Best Buys of 2017”.
About Dom Maxwell
Dom Maxwell, 41, started his career at Greystone in 2004 as a vineyard hand, after completing his degree in Viticulture and Oenology. Dom then went on to become Greystone’s Winemaker and in 2011 New Zealand’s Winestate Winemaker of the Year. Dom has worked overseas at Chehalem in Oregon, USA, Weingut Leitz in the Rheingau, Germany and at Domaine d’Eugénie in Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy.