About the Winery
Maison Noire our small vineyard on the Waimarama road, looking out to sea and surrounded by rolling hills, is also the place we call home.
Discover French Winemaker Guillaume Thomas and taste a range of truly Boutique Wines made in Hawkes Bay. His wines combine the fruit characters of New Zealand grapes with the finesse and elegance of French inspired wine-making techniques.
Meet the Team
Guillaume Thomas
I grew up in the Loire Valley, studied winemaking and viticulture in Bordeaux and in the South of France, and I have been very influenced by the regional cultures, techniques and wine styles I discovered earlier on in my winemaking career. The wines I make reflect this duality: they are strongly rooted in Hawkes Bay but let you travel through these different regions in France, Spain and Italy. I guess the key factor for me is the balance of the wine, especially around the acidity and fruit characters, with smooth integrated tannins for the reds. It is important to use all the tools available these days to make wines that can reflect what you want to express, but I mainly use techniques from the Old world in my winemaking style.
