Nick Goldschmidt, Winemaker

Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Nick Goldschmidt originally studied civil engineering before his switching to viticulture and winemaking. After graduating with distinction in horticulture, Nick continued his viticultural studies at Charles Stuart University in Wagga Wagga, Australia, and completed his postgraduate studies in enology at Roseworth Agricultural College also in Australia.

While studying, he worked at Kumeu River, Coopers Creek, and Babich wineries. In 1989, after 18 months of winemaking in Australia, New Zealand, California, and South America, including his first harvest in Chile as Winemaker for Caliterra, Nick returned to Northern California as Simi Winery's Associate Winemaker. He was promoted to Winemaker in 1991 and became a Vice President of the winery in 1996. He remained at Simi Winery for 14 years, through the sale of the winery to the Icon Estates fine wine division of Constellation Wines.

During this period, Nick also started several wine brands of his own - including Forefathers, Goldschmidt Vineyards, and Boulder Bank.

In 2003, Nick became Executive Vice President, Winemaker at Allied Domecq Wines USA – overseeing production for the California portfolio of wines, which included Mumm Napa, Callaway, Clos du Bois, Buena Vista, Atlas Peak, Gary Farrell, and William Hill. On a global level, Nick has traveled to Mexico, Spain, Argentina, and New Zealand to consult on the blends created for the US market for Allied Domecq. When Allied Domecq was sold to Fortune Brands in 2005, Nick transferred to Beam Wine Estates to oversee their production as Executive Winemaker, adding Wild Horse and Geyser Peak Wineries to his production portfolio.

With the sale of Beam Wine Estates to Constellation Wines in 2007, Nick enters a new chapter in his career - full time consulting winemaker. Besides focusing on his wine brands, he continues to consult privately around the world, including for Ehret Family Winery.