Belinda Jackson, Consultant, Marlborough

Born, Bred, Schooled

Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, grew up on the edge of the New Forest in a town called Fordingbridge, Hampshire. Schooled in Salisbury at South Wilts Grammar School for Girls (groan) followed by Brockenhurst College near Lymington, New Forest.

First wine industry job

Working in a pub back home in the UK in the mid-eighties, or if that doesn't count, working in various chateaux near Bordeaux in 1986

First real (full time) job (outside of school/uni holidays)

See above

Career Highlight

As Wine Category Manager for Carlsberg-Tetley, presenting our range to London's wine media (with the worst hangover ever after the Publican Awards the night before). I was very proud to have the level of autonomy and support to do this. We were the only UK brewer taking on-premise wine supply seriously.

Cat? Dog?

Don't like cats, love dogs but not got either (have twin boys though...)

Desert island wine and food

Breakfast - my own scrambled eggs with good, strong black coffee
Lunch - English baked beans on toast with melted cheese and Antipodes sparkling water
Dinner - Steingarten Riesling as an aperitif, Bluff oysters with Didier Dagueneau's Cuvee Silex, and aged, rare scotch fillet with Cote Rotie from Rene Rostaing followed by vintage Armagnac from Domaine du Tariquet.

Mentor/Influencer

A previous boss of mine from the UK, Clive Hunt. Remarkable man: Massive integrity, highly respected and with a deep sense of what is right. A true gentleman from whom I learned so much.

Dinner table companions, dead or alive

Richard Branson, Didier Daguenau, Sean Bean, Clive Hunt (see above), Christian Pol Roger and my Dad (might have to leave Sean Bean out then....could get awkward)

Greatest achievement

Twins.....

New Zealand wine industry needs...

To be more dynamic, more market led, more proactive, more focussed on what they (producers) can do to be top of their game rather than knocking the more innovative, newer players. Invest in the brand - that includes the wine, the region and the country.

If you weren't working in the wine industry, what would you be doing?

God knows....probably writing/marketing/or something with flowers

One thing about you people might be surprised to learn?

My highest qualification is an ‘A' Level in ceramics (ok, I did get a WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits) and I'm allergic to kiwi fruit (sorry, that's two things...)

If you had the day off tomorrow what would you like to do.

Read - the books on my Kindle, the book beside my bed, my food and recipe books and my food magazines

Connections

T:      @WineBelindaNZ @WineCompsNZ
FB:     Belinda Jackson
LI:     Belinda Jackson
WS:    www.belindajackson.com
           www.thespiegelauiwc.co.nz
           www.marlboroughwineshow.co.nz (coming)

Blog:  www.wordpress.com/belindaljackson

 


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