Meet our new head winemaker, Jacques Huysamer

We’re thrilled to share that Jacques has recently been promoted to Head Winemaker here at New Hall Wine Estate. We’re excited to see the passion, creativity, and fresh ideas and new perspective Jacques will bring as he leads the next chapter of winemaking at New Hall.

Jacques started with us at New Hall Wine Estate in August 2023, right when we start Harvest, so he hit the ground running! He graduated from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa with a BSc Viticulture & Oenology. Six years of cellar and production roles in South Africa, followed by two years in cooler-climate Walker Bay focusing on premium still wine production, led to Jacques’ passion to drive strategic growth across our portfolio in the Crouch Valley of the Essex Countryside.

Crucially, his time at Piekensiersloof Wine Co. developed Jacques’ proficiency in leadership, large-scale production and experience with Old Vine varietals. There are lots of exciting ‘Old Vine’ wines due to be joining our portfolio from the historic parts of the vineyard that Jacques is passionate to work with.

Here’s what Jacques has to say;

‘I’m passionate about maximising the unique expression of our English terroir through creative, site-specific winemaking. It’s a very busy time of year in the Winery here at New Hall. Bottling season is in full swing! We’re putting the finishing touches on our wines by blending the final batches, followed by fining and filtering to get everything just right. In total, we’re preparing nearly 60,000 bottles for the next stage. And when the pumps and filters aren’t running, we’re busy disgorging our Sparkling Wines—twice a week—to keep everything moving.’