Jane initially planned to study Electrical Engineering after leaving school. She soon realised that volts and amps would be unlikely to hold her interest and instead applied for a job in a local fine wine shop and a career in wine began.
She completed the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Diploma exam (gaining the Frescobaldi and Cognac scholarships) in 1988 and continuing her studies gained her Master of Wine qualification in 1993.
She married her New Zealand husband in 1993 and moved to Auckland in 2000. Jane now divides her time between teaching WSET wine classes through the NZ School of Wines and Spirits, writing about wine and looking after her family. She writes a weekly wine column for the Sunday Star Times, is the Wine Editor for the Foodtown Magazine and regular contributor to NZ Grape Grower, Gourmet Traveller Wine and Wine NZ.
Jane is the Chairman of the International Chardonnay Challenge, Senior Judge at the Royal Easter Wine Show, the NZ International Wine Show, Liquorland International Wine Competiton and the Hawkes Bay Wine Awards. She has judged in London, Tokyo and Brisbane and was the guest international judge at the 2006 Rutherglen Wine Show.
Articles by Jane
- Tinpot Hut Wines
- Sauvignon Blanc vs Burgundy?
- Church Road Tasting
- 2003 Erdener Treppchen Beerenauslese, Markus Molitor 375ml
- 2005 Hesketh 'Usual Suspects' Shiraz Viognier
- NV Domaine Chandon Rosé
- Pinot Noir : 17th October 2008
- Trinity Hill Tempranillo - a retrospective
- Kumeu River Winery - New Releases
- Pinot Gris - why the long face ?
- A despatch from Bordeaux
- 2008 Neudorf Kina Pinot Noir Rosé
- 2006 Vidal Reserve Syrah, Hawke's Bay
- Judging Chardonnay
- " Evil, watery and grassy " - surely some mistake ?
- Austria: wonderful wines but no internet
- Third time lucky - top marks for perseverance to Jackson Estate
- Proof that not all wines taste the same . . . .
- The relaunch of the Independent Wine Monthly website
- 2008 Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Riesling
- Hot Red Roadshow rolls into town
- The end of a long, long week . . . .
- A decade of winemaking at Villa Maria
- An evening with some emerging stars . . .
- A look at Pegasus Bay plus a glimpse of the Hauraki Gulf
- What to take and what to leave out . . . .
- A Celebration in Taupo
- Marlborough Part One - Clos Henri
- 2009 Hawke's Bay Wine Awards
- Marlborough Part Two - Churton
- Hawke's Bay Pinot Noir - a winner ??
- Silky and subtle not gritty and gigantic
- We apologise for the disruption . . .
- PR Piffle
- A brace of whites to cheer up a very dark day
- October 2009 Independent Wine Monthly now online
- Marlborough Wine Weekend
- Morning Tea, McLaren Vale style
- 2008 Seresin Estate Raupo Pinot Gris
- A brilliant start to 2010
- Tastings at the Beach - Part One : Trinity Hill
- An interesting observation ?
- 2006 Aurora Syrah, Bendigo
- Tastings at the Beach - Part Two : Man O'War
- Tastings at the Beach - Part Three : Bellbird Spring
- Dry River Tasting : 2007 - 2004
- Thoughts on Champagne
- Elephant Hill Winery : a brace of syrah
- A couple of oldies but goldies
- International Chardonnay Challenge - a few photos
- Framingham F Series - A White Riot
- Streamlining the Website
- Auburn Wines - a new name from Central Otago
- Two Gewurztraminers and an aged red
- Neudorf's 30th Birthday
- Churton Wines - New Releases
