Waipara Valley Vineyard Manager

Swiss born Jean-Luc has a family history of four generations of growing in Europe. Beginning in his home country he has also worked in vineyards in Europe and USA before immigrating to New Zealand. He has been a viticulturist for more than 20 years, 16 of them at the Home Block Vineyard in the Waiapra Valley.

Over the years his interest in natural methods of pest and disease management has grown, and as a result, Jean-Luc has been working to introduce biodiversity methods into the vineyards.  Initiatives include avoiding the use of insecticide for leaf roller caterpillar by planting buckwheat to attract natural enemies, as well as working with Lincoln University to identify which New Zealand native plants can be used to best control pests in the vineyard.