The King of Chardonnay: Tony Bish on reinvention, innovation and obsession

About this episode

Tony Bish shares his journey as the 'King of Chardonnay' and discusses the innovations and challenges in the New Zealand wine industry.

What does it take to become known as the “King of Chardonnay” ? In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast , we sit down with New Zealand winemaking legend Tony Bish to unpack a career that broke every rule. From dropping out of law school to pioneering chardonnay in Hawke’s Bay, Tony shares the raw, unfiltered story behind building a globally respected wine label. We go deep on: Why chardonnay became his singular obsession The early days of New Zealand’s wine industry How innovation in fermentation (including concrete and oak eggs) changed everything The brutal realities of partnerships, risk, and starting over What truly separates great wine from average wine This is not just a conversation about wine. It’s about conviction, craft, and backing yourself when nothing is guaranteed. The Halliday Wine Companion Podcast is hosted by Halliday editor Anna Webster. Tony Bish Wines Tony Bish on Instagram Halliday Wine Companion Halliday Wine Companion on Instagram Anna Webster on Instagram Buy the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion   00:00 – Meet Tony Bish: New Zealand’s King of Chardonnay 02:09 – The moment wine…

People in this episode

Host: Anna Webster

Guest: Tony Bish

Topics covered

• Chardonnay
• winemaking
• innovation
• New Zealand wine industry
• fermentation

Keywords

• reinvention
• obsession
• wine label
• partnerships
• craft

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Tony Bish Wines

Places: New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s, Hawke’s

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