About the Winemaker

Amelia Riwai

Amelia’s winemaking career has spanned over two decades and has seen her produce internationally acclaimed wines in both New Zealand and France.

Having completed her Bachelor of Commerce at Otago University, Amelia made the decision to follow her passion and enthusiasm for the wine industry and completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University in 1995.

Amelia then took off on her OE, spending time in Asia and Europe and visiting some of the world’s best known wine regions in France, Germany and Italy. With wine fast becoming her main focus, Amelia returned to New Zealand and completed a vintage at Vidal Estate in Hawke’s Bay. For the next five years she worked two vintages a year in both Rhone Valley in France and Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand.

Amelia joined Matariki Wines as Assistant Winemaker in December 2000 and was promoted to Senior Winemaker/Winery Manager in 2003. She headed the winemaking team at Matariki for five years with a philosophy firmly based on the belief that the best wines are made in the vineyard and understanding that the concept of “terroir” is very important. She believes that the skill of a winemaker is to give a true expression of the fruit with the use of traditional and modern techniques both in the winery and the vineyard.

Swirl Wine Consultancy was established by Amelia in 2009. Amelia has been involved with the winemaking at Bushmere Estate since the 2005 Vintage.