- Waiheke Island, New Zealand
- May 9, 2025
Executive winemaker and business leader with 15+ years of experience building premium wine brands that blend craftsmanship with commercial success. I’ve led the end-to-end development of founder-driven wineries — from sustainable vineyard partnerships and gravity-fed winery design to product development and market expansion. Skilled in scaling DTC channels, designing immersive hospitality experiences, and positioning brands with emotional resonance in the premium wine space. Known for combining creative leadership with operational depth, I bring a future-focused lens to tradition-rooted industries, delivering both award-winning wines and measurable business growth across domestic and international markets.
Education
A comprehensive degree that combines the science of grape growing (viticulture), winemaking (oenology), wine business management and winery and vineyard design and engineering.
Experience
Director & Business Leader
Batch Winery, Waiheke Island, New Zealand
2021 – 2025 (4 Years)
• Strategic Leadership: Provide oversight and strategic direction, contributing to business growth.
• Operational Management: Oversee operations including financial planning, marketing, and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborative Partnerships: Forge partnerships with hospitality, tourism, and local businesses to enhance the winery’s destination appeal.
• Innovation & Expansion: Led business expansion initiatives, integrating creative design with operational excellence.
Winemaker and Vineyard Oversight
Batch Winery, Waiheke Island, New Zealand
2010 – 2025 (15 Years)
• Operational Leadership: Led overall winemaking and vineyard oversight, ensuring production processes adhere to high-quality standards.
• Vineyard Design & Farming: Develop and led a climate adaptive vineyard design with an emphasis on sustainable and regenerative farming practices.
• Innovative Winery Design: Developed and executed a gravity-fed winery system, winery fitout, custom equipment solutions for efficiency and still and sparkling bottling systems.
• Quality & Compliance Oversight: Implement and maintain quality control systems along with HR, health and safety, compliance, and certification.
• Innovation & Product Development: Led the development of premium wines, creating a tiered brand portfolio, fostering innovation and maintaining a competitive edge.
• Team & Stakeholder Collaboration: Manage a team and build strong relationships with suppliers, distributors, and local businesses.
Founder
Struckman Fine Wine, New Zealand
2019 – Present
• Brand Creation & Development: Founded Struckman Fine Wine, crafting premium wines and strategically developing innovative brand narratives.
• Winemaking & Collaborative Partnerships: Oversee all aspects of winemaking, including sourcing grapes from carefully selected vineyard partners recognised for their sustainable practices and premium fruit.
• Wine Growth & Reach: In its infancy, currently growing the brand’s reach, focusing on building its presence in the premium wine market, both domestically and internationally.
Creative Advisor (alongside winemaking role)
New Zealand
2010 – Present
• Product Development: Helped small New Zealand businesses develop beers, ciders, spirits, fruit wine, and meads. Advised on flavour, style, and creative direction to bring unique products to market.