Who we are

We are two winemakers who have been all over the world studying and making wine. We have a combined total of 13 years of experience in the wine industry and are very passionate about sharing our journey and making wine.

Both of us started out in our respective countries: Goncalo in Alentejo, Portugal and Jacquelyn in Virginia, USA. As if mirroring one another, we both set out to travel the world and to discover the complexity and humanity that wine uniquely has.  Fate brought us both to New Zealand where we met and began sharing our ideas and passion.  Inseparable, we began to travel to as many wine regions as money would allow including countries such as: France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, USA, and Australia. Every region we visited we tried to absorb as much knowledge and understanding of the people who make it and the people who teach it. This prompted us to make the company of HOLMES Wine that combines our love of making wine and our interest of sharing wine through our hands on and often personal experiences. 

Jacquelyn started her journey in Virginia, USA and fell immediately in love with all components of wine: the taste, the history, the science, and the community. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in microbiology and evolutionary theory, she decided to put her expertise to use in the wine industry and began her career at a small family owned vineyard in Virginia. From these beginnings, she currently now studys and makes wine in historic wine regions with well known producers.

“One of the most unique things I find about wine is its ability to bring to you, in a single bottle, a glimpse of nature, through a sense of place on this earth, the human experience, through its expression in art and ties to humanity’s history, and science, through the meticulous study by its professionals.”

Gonçalo began his journey in his home country of Portugal and has been following wine seasons ever since. He is currently studying wines by traveling to premier wine regions and currently holds WSET III certifications. With a Master’s Degree in Food Sciences, he has a goal to cultivate and produce his own wine in the Douro Valley, Portugal.

“I believe that the link between wine and people, the way it gathers everyone around a table, and the stories a bottle tells about where it’s grown, is what makes wine truly an unique beverage. One day, I want to capture this depth of culture and individuality in wine.”