Winemaker and consultant John Belsham has been engaged to lend his 35 years of Chardonnay winemaking expertise to Winmark Wines. Chardonnay is without a doubt one of his favourite varietals with which to work and was the first wine he made at his own New Zealand wine company, Foxes Island, in 1992.

It’s been said If ever a film were made about New Zealand wine, John Belsham would be the leading man. He cut his winemaking teeth in Bordeaux, France before becoming one of New Zealand’s most highly-regarded winemakers.

Fluent in French and English, John was one of the original ‘Flying Winemakers’ in the early 1990’s when the term was first coined by U.K. retailer Tony Laithwaite. Today John continues to work on winemaking projects globally; from technical winemaking expertise to winery design and business strategy. His 40 years of international wine industry experience and knowledgeable approach has shaped and guided some of the most successful wine companies today.