Matt Kirby
Born in Australia, Matt Kirby moved to Aotearoa in 2015 to take up the Chief Winemaker role at Clearview Estate in Te Awanga. The lure of Hawke’s Bay, with his young family, the abundant sunshine, good surf and friendly people, was too good to pass up.
Originally studying marine biology, Matt was a qualified chef before embarking on a career in wine. “Once I decided to pursue wine, I studied at Latrobe in Melbourne and had a little vineyard in the Yarra Valley producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. I have worked in many countries during my winemaking career: Australia, China, France (Burgundy), Austria, the United States, and now here in Aotearoa. I have developed a real passion for the wines of the world. The wines of Hawkes Bay are world class, and it is a pleasure to make wine from the unique patch of soils that is Clearview Estate.”
More recently Matt has also moved into wine judging and was the chief judge at the HB A&P Wine Awards from 2022 to 2024.
