Our team

Karl Heinz Johner – Owner/Winemaker

With a degree in Oenology from the Geisenheim University in Germany, Karl moved to Kent in England after graduating and was among the first winemaker’s to produce English sparkling wine. After returning to Germany in 1985 he founded Weingut Karl Heinz Johner in Bischoffingen in the Baden region, which he runs with his wife Irene and his family producing world class Burgundy style wines. Karl later travelled the world visiting many wine regions, before finally establishing his second winery and vineyard, Johner Estate, which is made up of different grape varieties across 14 hectares in Gladstone Wairarapa. Karl also grows grapes on 1.3 hectares just out of Masterton, on the Lime Hill Vineyard. This vineyard has light clay soil over limestone which is typical of the Burgundy region of France and produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Burgundian style.

Karl now oversees the winemaking at Johner Estate in New Zealand so that the qua...