Dan Taylor
Beverages Export Sales Manager

At first, you might assume that Dan Taylor’s role sits at the end of the winemaking story.

When the wine is finished, it’s sent to customers around the world, and the job is done.

Except, that’s not exactly true. 

Dan’s job is to decide what happens at the end – and the beginning.

Just as he sends millions of bottles from our shores, our Export Manager is instrumental in the decisions of what wines to make next.

Using his relationships with export partners and his deep knowledge of the global market, Dan is able to get a clearer picture of what will be in demand. 

His conversations and connections fuel the winemakers’ strategies, as changing customer preferences influence what goes in the ground for the next harvest.

This is why it’s so important for Dan to work closely with the rest of the team in the Awatere Valley.

“I’m based at the winery, working alongside the winemakers. It’s not so much the norm nowadays, as companies expand and people work in separate offices across the country – even across the world. We use this integration to our advantage.”

Working alongside our winemakers, such as Bruce Taylor and Anna McCarty, and even our growers such as Anthony Walsh, is a huge advantage.

It means our export partners can find out what’s happening at the winery, and it means Dan’s market insights have an immediate impact on the rest of the team.
It makes for easy collaboration, effective decision making, and it means things get done quickly.

“It’s such a close-knit team here at Kono. Nothing would be made without our winemakers. Nothing would get to customers without our production team and market services team. And we wouldn’t sell successfully without our marketing team. I sit literally in the middle.”

And, finally, working at the winery is an inspiring backdrop for sales conversations, as Dan shares the Kono story with a growing audience of environmentally-conscious wine lovers.

Some of our export partners have been with us from the very beginning, others have found Kono in recent years and have been spellbound by our business and our outstanding wine.

“The Kono story is so unique – the history, the 23+ years of consistent quality, awards, and accolades. Today’s market is looking for wine businesses that care about the environment. They see our beautiful brands, our robust business, and then they learn that we’re a Māori business with a values-driven story. They find it compelling.”

Through nurturing current export relationships, researching new markets, and connecting with like-minded businesses, Dan has helped Tohu – our international wine brand – gain a strong foothold in the global wine industry.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has taken the world by storm in recent years. Dan has amplified our international award-winning Tohu Sauvignon Blancs on the international market.

But, unless you’ve tried it, Dan’s favourite wine might surprise you:

“The Tohu Rewa Rosé Méthode Traditionnelle is a best-kept secret of not just the Marlborough region, but the whole of Aotearoa!”

Today’s consumer is increasingly conscious of the environment. Purchases are more intentional. People want to know the underlying values of the companies they buy from – and whether they use sustainable practices.

Originally from the UK, with fifteen years of experience exporting wine, Dan has watched the wine industry shift to meet this demand. 

When Dan joined the Kono whānau in 2015, he saw that the importance of land wellness ran deep within the business. 

He explains that eco-consciousness and sustainability are not new concepts at Kono. They’re part of our history as a Māori-owned business with kaitiakitanga at its core.

“The green narrative is competitive. As an indigenous-owned company, our Whenua Ora story is different. It links the history of Wakatū and the future of what we hope the business will be.”

Each day, Dan represents outstanding wine, a unique business story, and a deep set of values. He says there’s no other word for it but pride, and this immense pride for Kono is what he takes into every conversation with our growing audience of wine lovers around the world.