John Penney

A Wine Lover's Progress

I wasn’t always a wine lover. I grew up in a beer‑drinking town in New Zealand where wine was almost invisible, and it wasn’t until my twenties that I first encountered it properly while working evenings at the Wellington Club. Those early tastes sparked curiosity, but the real turning point came later — through travel, study, and a growing fascination with the people and places behind great wine.

My first visit to Martinborough in the late 1980s made a lasting impression. I met pioneering winemakers, tasted wines that felt genuinely exciting, and discovered a region with a sense of purpose and identity. Over the years that followed, my wine journey expanded through extensive travel in Europe, Australia, and the United States, countless tastings, and formal study, eventually earning WSET Level 3 with Distinction. Alongside this, my professional background in adult learning shaped how I think about explaining wine — making it clear, engaging, and accessible without ever dumbing it down.

When my wife and I moved to Martinborough, the connection deepened. She now works in viticulture at Ata Rangi, and I became involved in the local wine community, eventually serving as Cellarmaster for the Martinborough Wine & Food Society. Living here, surrounded by vineyards and people who care deeply about their craft, reinforced something I had felt for years: wine is best understood through context — the land, the growers, the choices behind each bottle.

The idea for my private wine tours came during a research trip to Chile. I booked a well‑reviewed group tour hoping for a wine‑focused day, but instead found myself on a general sightseeing itinerary with entry‑level tastings. It was enjoyable, but not what I was looking for. I realised there must be others like me — travellers who want depth, access, and genuine expertise.

That’s why I created wineinsights™. My tours are private, tailored, and built around the wines you want to explore. You’ll taste flagship wines, meet winemakers, and gain a deeper understanding of Martinborough and the wider Wairarapa. Education is central to what I do: whether you’re new to wine or already knowledgeable, I help you connect the dots — vineyard to glass — in a way that’s clear, engaging, and grounded in real regional insight.

For me, wine is a lifelong journey. Guiding others through this region is simply the most rewarding way to share it.