Over the past 30 years I have gathered a great deal of hands-on experience, knowledge and understanding of the wine industry, obtained by working around the globe. As the website name states - literally from ‘grape to glass’.
🔴 I have been involved with soil profile & topography surveys on potential new vineyards in Hawke's Bay & Marlborough - as I have a BSc Degree from the University of Auckland in Physical Geography - with a minor in Geology. I have experience with grape sampling across vineyards & varietals in different countries/regions determining physiological ripeness, assisting with grape harvesting and different stages of vinification.
🔴 In the early 1990’s I was invited to be involved with the process / stages in blending fermented wines in the winery, including sampling oak barrels & tanks to craft single or mixed grape blends for further ageing or final bottling. I have experience in crafting 'wine styles' for *early & later consumption and blending wines for different markets (e.g. New Zealand, Australia, Asia, UK / Europe & the States) - as these markets have different expectations for certain varietals and overall wine character.
🔴 I have worked in Fine Wine Retail where my colleagues and I won the ‘Top Shop Award’ on 3 occasions - *(voted by the New Zealand public). Winning the overall 'Best Retail Shop' once, and the 'Best Wine Shop' twice. So I know what is takes to give customers the best retail wine experience.
🔴 I have worked with the On-Premise - *(Restaurants, Wine Bars, Hotels and alike) - in a sales and wine supplier capacity. Plus working in the restaurant / bar industry here in New Zealand and overseas - working behind the bar, on the floor and in management.
🔴 I ran my own design company (Blustone ‘Marketing by Design’) - I have experience in graphic design, using my skills to create new labels for wine bottles, cartons, brochures, clothing along with multi-media & website design.
🔴 I have a Post-Graduate Diploma from the University of Auckland in 'Business Marketing' - for a number of years I was the brand marketing manager for wineries such as: Kim Crawford Wines, Brookfields Vineyards, Rockburn Wines, Torbreck Wines - to name just a few. So I have comprehensive experience in developing multi-channel brand strategies & understanding market activations.
🔴 I have been involved with a large number of market development & product launches in New Zealand, UK, Italy, France and Germany. So again I have hands on experience and knowledge of multi-channel and multi-cultural communication & engagement requirements.
🔴 During just the past 20 years - I have designed and presented over 10,000 Brand Activations and during the same period, I have hosted over 30,000 guests to my diverse and insightful wine education experiences.
🔴 I am most proud to be involved with the Eisch Family in Bavaria - Germany, with whom I have worked closely on the concept design, and launch of the Eisch 'UNITY' range of mouth-blown stemware for wine. My research started in 2016 and then the final shapes were launched in late 2017 and in 2018 the 'UNITY' Bordeaux wine glass was Ranked No.1 in the World*. It is an honour to be the international ambassador for their 'SensisPlus' wine glasses - which in my opinion are the most expressive in the world.
🔴 Then in 2020 we began designing what is now known as the 'ESSENCA' Range of 3 wines glasses. I worked closely on this project, with the launch of the Eisch 'ESSENCA' range in August 2022. All our research, experience, design and attention to detail has paid off - as all 3 glasses in the 'ESSENCA' Stemware Range were recently announced the 'Test Winner' - by the Association of Independent Wine Experts*. It is an honour to be the international ambassador for 'ESSENCA' Stemware - "a stemware range not limited by grape or colour".
★ For nearly 3 decades - I have been the 'Brand Ambassador' in New Zealand for over 100 of International Wine brands such as: Cecchi Family, Pasqua & Santa Margherita Wines in Italy - Gisselbrecht, Piper-Heidsieck, Charles Heidsieck, Pol Roger, Drappier, Domaine Laroche & Château Routas, Château Clarke in France - Quinta de La Rosa, Sandeman & Taylor’s Port in Portugal - Eisch Stemware in Germany - Marqués de Cáceres & Valdespino in Spain - De Bortoli, Chapel Hill, Geoff Merrill, Hewitson, Kaesler, Kilikanoon, Tim Adams, Torbreck and others in Australia - Montes Wines in Chile - Chakana in Argentina - Akarua, Allan Scott, Brookfields, Jules Taylor, Matawhero, Nga Waka, Rimu Grove, Lake Chalice, Rockburn, Stonyridge, Trinity Hill, Tupari, Waipara Hills & Zephyr Wines in New Zealand - to name just a few.
So if you are looking for: Wine Consultancy - Wine Blending - Wine Brand Due-Diligence - Label & Package Design - Media Support - Market / Channel Strategy - Product Introduction & Activation - Trade & Public Education - Event Design / Hosting of a Degustation or an honest Wine Review - *(short tasting note or full feature article).
Industry Acknowledgements
“Gavin has a deep understanding of wine, how it is grown and how it is made. But he also understands the magic of fine wine, and what makes it special. The intangibles. His enthusiasm is infectious, and he is a great ambassador for the industry”.
Glenn Thomas - Owner / Winemaker Tupari Wines
Having worked with Gavin over the past 10 years at Hancocks, it is not hard to see his passion and knowledge for wine and the industry as a whole. I am constantly visiting trade customers throughout NZ who comment about how wonderful they have found his classes and the knowledge that it has imparted on their staff. Such a great asset to the Hancocks family and the industry in general!
Kirsten Searle - Owner Matawhero Wines - Gisborne, NZ
“I rarely found people who go so deep in their research as much as Gavin. One question after the other to discover more and more. And not only with a technical point of view, but Gavin also considers and wants to know about the philosophy of something, the culture which develops certain things instead and the different characteristics that the same thing can have if seen from a different prospective. All this ‘need to know’ would not be possible without a real passion for this industry”.
Cesare Cecchi - Owner / Director Cecchi Family Wines - Italy
“Gavin Hubble - ‘The Wine Guy’ - so aptly named as I think wine flows in Gavin’s blood. He lives and breathes wine and regular travels to all corners of the globe in his quest to learn more about the wonderful world of wine. What makes him unique is the ability to then disseminate this knowledge to others in a practical and uncomplicated manner”.
Bryn Richards - Head Winemaker, Chapel Hill Wines - McLaren Vale, Australia
“Gavin is without doubt one of the finest wine authorities in the country. His global travelling and wine knowledge is exceptional and his passion and love of wine is infectious. We are lucky to have him in New Zealand”.
Steve White - Owner / Winemaker Stonyridge Vineyards - NZ
GALLERY *(a small snap-shot of my 30 years of industry experience).
