About Joelle...

Wine writer and author

Welcome to my website, which is all about wine and the things that go with it...

I am a journalist and have been writing wine since 1994 in newspapers, news stand magazines, books, as a wine judge, tutor and in wine retail. I have the Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s highest qualification, the Level 4 Diploma. I currently write independently about wine for Good magazine, Drinksbiz, NZ Winegrower magazine, the Martinborough Star and my own website, among others.

I have worked in wine education extensively teaching WSET and NZQA wine qualifications as well as hosting and organising fine wine and in store tastings in wine retail. My writing awards include, among others, winning the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for her book Joelle Thomson’s Under $20 Wine Guide and being shortlisted for the Montana Book Awards Best Lifestyle in 2005 for Celebrating New Zealand Wine.

Courage and great gin - meet two newcomers

August 22, 2025

The birth of two top new gins

When is the best time to launch a new brand?When asked, most people suggest waiting until after an economic downturn but the founders of a new gin brand called Unlikely Companions, have decided to take the plunge now and are launching their gins across New Zealand this month."We soft launched Unlike...

Contact Joelle

Get in touch, book a tasting or find out more by email:

mailme@joellethomson.com

Submit wines for review

Send wines for review, analysis and professional views to me. I taste all wines that are sent in and publish as many as possible on this site and in the independent publications that I write for. These include Drinksbiz magazine, NZ Winegrower magazine, Good magazine and others. If you would like to send wines in for review, let me know by email or phone 021 376 786.

I look forward to hearing from you.