Chardonnay Symposium 26

Dave Brookes is a freelance wine journalist with over 25 years of experience, covering Tasmania, the Barossa & Eden Valleys and a large slice of New Zealand for the annual Halliday Wine Companion. He is a regular contributor to Wine Companion and Selector magazines and his work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits, Gourmet Traveller WINE, The Adelaide Review, Fairfax media, and the in-flight magazines for Emirates and Qantas.

Dr Chandré Honeth is a senior lecturer and researcher at The Eastern Institute of Technology. She attained a PhD in Viticulture from the University of Stellenbosch and subsequently moved to Hawke’s Bay to focus on education in the field.

Emma Jenkins MW abandoned her science training for a more sociable career in wine. She writes on a freelance basis for a number of trade and general publications, including New Zealand coverage for Decanter.

Helen Masters has been the Winemaker at Ata Rangi for 22 years. Exploring and understanding the essence of place is Helen’s goal, she is a champion of minimal additions, natural yeast and no fining as a way to truly express the unique fingerprint of the Martinborough Terrace. She along with her family farm the Masters vineyard, which producers a single site Chardonnay and Pinot Noir under the Ata Rangi brand.

Warren is considered one of New Zealand’s most accomplished and influential winemakers, with a career spanning more than three decades and has a reputation for crafting some of New Zealand’s most acclaimed wines.

Michael Brajkovich MW was New Zealand’s first Institute of Masters of Wine member and has played a defining role in establishing Kumeu River Wines Chardonnay among the world’s finest. A respected wine judge, he was recognised in 2024 as a Fellow of New Zealand Winegrowers and received the Winemakers’ Winemaker award.

Julia Harding is a distinguished wine writer, editor, and Master of Wine, renowned for her expertise and attention to detail. With a Cambridge degree in Modern Languages, she initially worked as an academic book editor before her fascination with wine led her to a second career in wine writing. In 2004, she became a Master of Wine, passing first time and winning the Robert Mondavi Award for top theory papers, a distinction for her dissertation and the Tim Derouet Memorial Prize for overall excellence. For over 20 years, she has been Jancis Robinson’s senior editor at JancisRobinson.com.

As the Chief Winemaker behind some of Australia’s most critically acclaimed wines, Virginia leads the winemaking team at Margaret River’s founding wine estate, Vasse Felix. The 2026 vintage marks Virginia’s 20th year at Vasse Felix, having joined the estate as Chief Winemaker in October 2006.