Chief Winemaker, Australia/New Zealand, Treasury Wine Estates
South Australia
New Zealand born, a Roseworthy graduate with a first degree in Science from Otago University, after graduation Mark worked in France for eight years, the last six, managing vintages in the South of France from 1993 through 1998.
He returned to New Zealand in 1987, joining Matua Valley Wines, quickly rising to Chief Winemaker, Partner and Director.
As Chief Winemaker for Matua Valley, he won numerous national and international awards including “New Zealand Winemaker of the Year” in 1999 and a Trophy for “Best Chardonnay” from London’s International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2002.
Mark moved to Australia in 2004 and spent five years with Fosters Wine Group, overseeing and providing management and winemaking support for six of their Boutique wineries: Coldstream Hills (Yarra Valley, Vic), T’Gallant (Mornington Peninsular, Vic), Bailey’s of Glenrowan (Vic), Devil’s Lair (Margaret River, WA), Dorrien Wine Estate (Barossa Valley, SA), and his old company Matua Valley which Fosters had purchased in 2001 (West Auckland, NZ).
In 2007, Dorrien Estate, now part of Cellarmasters, was purchased from Fosters by private equity group Archer Capital. Mark went across to Cellarmasters as Chief Winemaker. That business was subsequently sold to the Woolworths Group in 2011. In 2012 Mark returned to Treasury Wine Estates as Chief Winemaker Australia and New Zealand.
Living in Adelaide with his wife Jane and their three teenagers, Mark balances life as a corporate winemaker, husband, father and family man and, when time permits, racing his yacht. Crew enquiries welcome – contact details from Sydney International Wine Competition!