Forager

With more than two decades shaping North Canterbury’s fine wine narrative, Dom Maxwell stands among New Zealand’s most respected winemakers. Twice named New Zealand Winemaker of the Year and recipient of international trophies at both the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge, his accolades reflect a career defined by thoughtful progression and quiet authority.

Forager, established in 2012, is Maxwell’s personal expression - a family project grounded in land, season and patience. His philosophy is holistic and deeply intentional: living close to the rhythms of nature, foraging not only for site but for meaning.

He works with sensitivity and restraint, guided by the belief that authenticity is achieved through clarity rather than embellishment.

Maxwell’s ethos is purity- wines that speak fluently of place, focused and composed, built for both immediacy and evolution. He values tension over weight, mineral length over power, articulation over adornment. Confident in craft, he resists overt signatures; like the finest Burgundian vignerons, he allows site to lead.

Dom’s aim is transparent expression: isolation and magnification where needed, cohesion and energy where appropriate — always with intention, always with purpose.