John Belsham
An international winemaker, businessman, consultant and critic, John Belsham has over 35 years of wine industry experience that has shaped and guided some of the most successful wine companies today.
As a student, Belsham learned to make wine in the Medoc region of Bordeaux, France where he lived from 1977 to 1981. He is fluent in French.
A natural entrepreneur, he founded Rapaura Vintners in 1991, the first contract winemaking company in New Zealand; a business whose tipping point took NZ winemaking from a select few and made it a commercial and viable option for many.
Adding to his businesses, Belsham founded Marlborough Oak Imports Ltd. in 1990, the exclusive New Zealand wine barrel importer for Dargaud & Jaegle, Vallaurine and Marc Grenier. He founded Foxes Island Wines in 1992 to focus on premium, single vineyard wines.
In 1994, Belsham founded Wine Focus Ltd., a wine consulting practice focused in areas of business strategy, company organisation, technical expertise, winery design and executive recruitment. He has held a number of board positions and advisory roles.
An internationally respected wine judge and critic, he is the Wine Panel Chair for Australasia’s leading food & wine magazine, Cuisine and has held the role of Wine Consultant to Air New Zealand since July 2000.
A founding member of the New Zealand Screw Cap Initiative, Belsham continues as chair of the NZSCI. He was a board member of the international conference Pinot Noir NZ in 2007 & 2010 and a distinguished speaker in 2004.
Belsham is a featured speaker at the 2012 International Pinot Noir Symposium in Germany.