John Kenneth Buck is chairman of

Te Mata Estate Te Mata Estate is an independent, family-owned Hawke's Bay winery and New Zealand's oldest, in continuous operation since 1895. The winery produces everything on-premises at their Havelock Hills site near Havelock North, south of Napier. Establis ...

winery A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, ...

and is widely recognised for his contributions to fine wine and the

New Zealand wine New Zealand wine is produced in several of its distinct winegrowing regions. As an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand has a largely maritime climate, although its elongated geography produces considerable regional variation f ...

industry.

Career

Buck was involved in wine judging in New Zealand and Australia for many years, beginning in 1969 after he published a book on the subject called ''Take a Little Wine''. In 1979, he became chairman of judges for the national wine show. He was the first New Zealander to hold this position. Buck was also chairman of the board of the Hawke's Bay Opera House and the patron of Cranford Hospice. In 1991, he founded the Hawke's Bay charity wine auction, and has been previously chairman of Hawkes Bay Vintners, which he helped establish. From 1991 to 1996, he served as chairman of the New Zealand Wine Institute. He has represented the wine industry at international trade negotiations, gaining access to the European Union, and had a regular wine series on Radio New Zealand as well as fronting documentaries for the same network in the Spectrum series. White House Te Mata

Since 1974, Buck and his wife Wendy have managed New Zealand's oldest winery, Te Mata Estate. They live in the Coleraine Vineyard opposite the winery, have three sons who work at Te Mata — Jonathan, Nick and Tobias Buck — and six grandchildren. Coleraine — the red wine made from the Buck family vineyard — has repeatedly been named New Zealand's greatest red wine, and has achieved many accolades in New Zealand and internationally.

Recognition

Buck has earned many awards over the years for his leadership in wine and the arts. He was awarded the

New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal The New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal was a commemorative medal awarded in New Zealand in 1990 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and was awarded to approximately 3,000 people. Background The New Zea ...

in 1990, and appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

, for services to the wine industry, in the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours. He was made a fellow of the Wine Institute of New Zealand in 2000, and awarded an honorary doctorate by Lincoln University in 2001. In 2012, Buck was inducted into the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame. In the

2013 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2013 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Hon ...

, Buck was appointed a

Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...

for services to the wine industry and the arts. He was also one of only 150 attendees at the International Wine Trade Dinner at London's Vintners' Hall in 2013, held by the

Worshipful Company of Vintners The Worshipful Company of Vintners is one of the oldest Livery Companies of the City of London, England, thought to date back to the 12th century. It is one of the "Great Twelve" livery companies of London, and its motto is ''Vinum Exhilarat A ...

in celebration of the 650th anniversary of the Company's first Royal Charter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buck, John 1942 births New Zealand winemakers Living people New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit People from the Hawke's Bay Region