Values

“Learning about wine is deliciously interdisciplinary. There’s lots of science (chemistry, biology, botany, geology) as well as culture, history and mythology. There are maps to pore over and if you are lucky, lands to discover. Best of all there are flavours, textures, and aromas to stir your soul. If you’ve been bitten by the wine bug, like I have, wine isn’t merely sensory, but intellectual; as your knowledge of wine deepens, so will your enjoyment of it…”  – Ken Fredrickson – Master Sommelier

Elevator Pitch

My name is Joamari van der Walt.  I am a Solicitor by day, Wine Merchant by night.  Owner of Joa’s Wines, a boutique online wine shop selling a carefully curated range of sustainably made, international and New Zealand wines.  I also present educational wine tastings, consult on wine menu designs, distribute to local establishments and I participate in collab pop-up events.  I love the infinite wine rabbit-hole!

Longer Version

I was born in South Africa. My interest in wine was probably ignited as child when I used to help my dad sort his wine cellar.  My job was to look up and reference the wines in the John Platter Guide. A cherished memory sorting through the hundreds of bottles.

My true love for wine started when I studied Law at the University of Stellenbosch (I should have become a winemaker, but instead became a lawyer) where I was introduced to the beautiful winelands and wineries of the region. I was part of and eventual chairperson of the Wine Culture Society, the largest society at university that arranged educational wine events and tours to the various wineries in the Stellenbosch and wider Western Cape region. The tours usually involved the winemaker giving a private tour of the vineyard, cellar and wines.

I was lucky to be the only non-winemaking student invited to private winemakers’ tastings (enthusiasm got me there) and gained much of my knowledge through these practical involvements. Throughout my life I continued to nurture my love and fascination with the industry by exploring and presenting educational wine tastings to anyone interested.

I attended the Diploma level courses at the Cape Wine Academy, completed WSET Level 2 and soon the Level 3 badge will be pinned to my blazer.

My career as Solicitor took me via Singapore to Whanganui, New Zealand (Linkedin has all these fun facts). My efforts as migrant settling into a new country led me to become involved in a community fundraiser for the Women’s Network where I present wine tasting events which over a number of years became very popular. Things developed from there with collaborative pop-up bar events, wine tasting events and 5 years later the launch of Joa’s Wines’ online boutique wine shop, soon to celebrate its 1^st birthday (ie. survived year one of wine hustling!).

Apart from the magical world of wine I would like to mention my involvement in the local Chamber of Commerce over the past 4 years where I acted as Board member and Vice Chair. At the time I established and grew the Whanganui Women In Business event which flourished. I am an active philanthropist through volunteering, donations and advocacy supporting a wide range of causes from The Women’s Network, Friends of Hylton Park, a native plant restorative project for the community, donations to local schools and recently to the Women’s Refuge.

I am working daily on my carbon footprint, trying to offset where I can, using sustainable packaging, focussing on organic and biodynamic producers and reusing where possible. It is a way of being, of living and improving. 

It is most important to me to build the relationships I have with you, the wineries I represent, my industry colleagues and everyone I interact with on a daily basis.  

I continue to curiously explore and discover quality wines with a story, history and character, sustainably made and with a bit of authentic magic. It is my pleasure to share these wines with you and to see the sparkle in your eye with that first sip.

I hope that you enjoy exploring my wine portfolio. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at joamari@joaswines.co.nz