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. 

If you can make it here, you'll make it anywhere

July 9, 2025

Tough vintages and top producers

Aotearoa might be a long way from New York but the 2023 vintage has a lot in common with the most famous song about the Big Apple; If you can make it here, you'll make it anywhere, sang Frank Sinatra, and the sentiment applies to the 2023 vintage. Talk about a tough one.As if two cyclones weren't en...
read more