About Us

After they married in Belgium, Jean-Charles and Marguerite planned to create their own vineyard. To achieve their dream, they looked towards the New World. After careful investigation, they chose to emigrate to New Zealand.

Jean-Charles, winemaker, is a graduate from the Institut d'Oenologie de l'Université de Bordeaux. He gained winemaking experience at several Châteaux Bordeaux like Canon La Gaffelière, Château des Laurets and Château La Freynelle. He also graduated from the University of Louvain in Belgium as Ingénieur Agronome, specialising in soil sciences with a particular interest in famous French vineyard soils. His thesis was to establish the soil map for the appellation of Puisseguin - St Emilion.

Jean-Charles started his New Zealand wine experience working for Gladstone Vineyard, a small producer in the Wairarapa. He then joined the team at Corbans Wines, one of the biggest players in the New Zealand wine industry at that time. The family moved to Marlborough, where they lived on the Stoneleigh vineyard. Jean Charles was then employed by Winegrowers of Ara for 9 years to develop and run their vineyard. He is now working full time for Clos Marguerite.

Over 20 years of experience in key viticulturist and winemaker roles, both in France and New Zealand have given Jean-Charles a unique understanding of the grape growing and wine making process. A useful expertise when it came to create Clos Marguerite.

As for Marguerite, with a grandfather who was a successful wine wholesaler in Brussels, she has been immersed in wine culture since early childhood. Today she is involved in every aspect of the business from tending the vines through to winemaking, sales and marketing. Marguerite loves to be in the vineyard and has an intimate knowledge of the vines and their fruit. She says she tastes as many grapes as the birds and gets really excited when she finds the fruit flavours in the finished wines - one of the important factors in their winemaking.