The evening began with a captivating introduction to the wines by Kyle Thompson, Senior Winemaker for Saint Clair Family Estate. Kyle’s background in food science and microbiology, combined with his passion for winemaking, started his journey in England. He has since acquired international experience in wine regions like Bordeaux, France, and his education led him back to New Zealand to blend old-world traditions with New World innovation. Kyle’s expertise has resulted in numerous awards, with Saint Clair’s winemaking team earning over 300 trophies and 700 gold medals under his guidance. His dedication to winemaking allows him to work with exceptional grapes, fusing traditional methods with cutting-edge New Zealand winemaking techniques.