Five Questions with Bell Hill Vineyard Winegrowers Sherwyn Veldhuizen & Marcel Giesen

In this episode of Five Questions on the Vint Wine Podcast, we sit down with Marcel Giesen and Sherwyn Veldhuizen, the visionary winegrowers behind Bell Hill Vineyard in North Canterbury, New Zealand. From the limestone-rich soils in the Weka Pass, the duo crafts small-lot, high-density Pinot Noir and Chardonnay inspired by the farming traditions of Burgundy.

We explore what makes Bell Hill so distinctive, from its limestone soils to their philosophy of “growing” wine rather than making it. Marcel and Sherwyn share which vintages have defined their journey, including their first Chardonnay in 2002 and a standout single-parcel expression from 2016. They also reflect on the influence of Champagne and Burgundy, their evolving approach to biodiversity and sustainability, and what lies ahead for the estate, including a sparkling wine project and long-term land stewardship goals.

📻 Tune in to learn:
• Why limestone, vine density, and terroir expression are central to Bell Hill’s identity
• How Burgundy’s wine-growing philosophy shaped their approach
• The role of vintage variation and what they’ve learned from their earliest wines
• What’s next for Bell Hill—from sparkling wine to rewilding and succession
• How they’re redefining what sustainable viticulture can look like in the New World

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The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!