July 9, 2026

Warren Gibson

Home » Chardonnay Symposium 26 » Speakers 26 » Warren Gibson

Winemaker, Trinity Hill and Bilancia and WG Consultancy

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.

Through his roles as Chief Winemaker at Trinity Hill since 1997, Owner/Winemaker at Bilancia (with his partner Lorraine) and with his various Consulting roles, Warren has been instrumental in shaping New Zealand’s reputation for Chardonnay excellence. His deep understanding of New Zealand’s diverse vineyard sites and terroirs has helped define the local Chardonnay identity on the world stage.

Dave Brookes (AUS)

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

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.

Taste Hastings – 13 November 2026

A night of food, wine and live music, it’s a street party of epic proportions!

Emma Jenkins MW

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.

Stephen Wong MW

Ex-sommelier with an unused law degree, Stephen found his place in wine through hospitality and education; advising restaurants and hotels on their wine programmes, providing training courses for industry and running masterclasses.

Great Wine Capitals AGM – October 2026

Hawke’s Bay is proud to host the 2026 Great Wine Capitals International Annual Conference. Across an immersive five-day programme, delegates will discover new cultures, new wines, new experiences, new connections, new business opportunities, and new insights.

Helen Masters

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.

Michael Brajkovich MW

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 MW (UK)

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.

Warren Gibson

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