Hailing from Marlborough, Ben worked summers in the vineyards as a teen before plunging into his first harvest at Wither Hills straight after finishing high school. After two years in the cellar, Ben received coveted scholarships from the Bragato Research Institute as he embarked on a Bachelor of Wine Science in Hawke’s Bay, graduating with an Academic Excellence Award. His journey in the world of wine saw him complete numerous vintages across renowned wine regions, including Burgundy, Oregon, Yarra Valley, Hermitage, and Hunter Valley, before basing himself in Central Otago at Peregrine Wines, where he was the Assistant Winemaker for 4-years.
Ben has established himself as a rising star in the world of winemaking. He was awarded the inaugural Central Otago Young Winemaker of the Year in 2018, holding the title for three consecutive years and earning New Zealand Young Winemaker of the Year in 2020. He joined Craggy Range in 2021 and quickly established himself as the perfect choice to lead Craggy Range into a new era of winemaking excellence.