New Zealand’s wine industry has long benefited from international talent, bringing fresh thinking and global experience to our vineyards and wineries. One of the latest additions to Marlborough’s wine community is Matheo Boison, the new Viticulture & Winery Technical Specialist at Bragato Research Institute.
Raised in Brittany, a region not traditionally associated with wine production in France, Matheo spent his childhood in a rural environment, developing an early passion for cultivation and agriculture. As he got older, he discovered wine and decided to combine both his passions in his studies and career.
Winemaking career
After completing a French agricultural diploma and a demanding two-year preparatory course, Matheo ranked 10th among 94 applicants nationwide, earning entry to one of France’s leading agronomical engineering schools. “I chose Institut Agro Montpellier for its double degree in vine and wine sciences, and its strong reputation within the wine industry". Following several years of study, he completed his qualifications in viticulture and oenology this year.
As part of his studies, he has completed four winemaking vintages across wine regions in France and New Zealand. “The first was at the prestigious Château Gazin in Pomerol, Bordeaux, where I discovered the art of making bold, structured red wines. I then moved to the Loire Valley in 2023, near the Coteaux-du-Layon AOC, where I hand-picked botrytised grapes for the region's famous moelleux wines. In 2024, at Dom Brial, I headed to the south of France near the Spanish border, in the Rivesaltes AOC, where I learned to produce fortified sweet red wines and the famous Muscat de Rivesaltes.”
As part of his degree, he had to undertake an international vintage. “I took part in the 2026 vintage in Marlborough at Allan Scott, where we produced quite a few litres of Sauvignon Blanc.” It was here that he experienced New Zealand’s flagship style firsthand and got to know the local Marlborough industry.
Viticulture and research
Matheo’s experience extends beyond the winery, with vineyard experience across several regions, from the Minervois to the Côte Roannaise. “I also took part in a research project during a gap year at INRAE, studying winter sheep grazing in southern France, which involved visiting and interviewing more than 30 growers.”
Like many international wine professionals, travelling to New Zealand was on Matheo’s wish list. He wanted to experience different winemaking styles, and he also found the country’s stunning landscapes difficult to resist. “I always wanted to see something beyond the French wine industry. New Zealand's industry is innovative, growing, and open-minded, which made it an easy choice.”
He found a role at Bragato in 2025, working with Dr Seth Laurenson on the Long-term sheep integration with the High Wire trellising system project based at Greystone Wines in North Canterbury. “This opportunity was my welcome ticket into New Zealand and at BRI, and fortunately, they decided to keep me.” His work quickly led to a permanent opportunity, where he took on the Viticultural Technical Specialist role, taking over from Chris Ireland.
Commercial viticulture trials
Today, much of his work revolves around designing and managing viticultural trials that produce practical outcomes for commercial clients. He says, “Designing trials that genuinely help clients and then making sure everything runs smoothly is very satisfying. Recording and reporting results accurately is also one of the ways we help growers, giving them confidence that products have been thoroughly tested before they are used in the vineyard.”
The viticultural trials cover a wide range of work, from product efficacy, testing phytotoxicity on vines, or even preparing data to support a Spray Schedule Inclusion. Matheo is passionate about sustainable and low-impact practices, and sees value in how BRI’s commercial trials can contribute. “In a world where we need to reduce our reliance on intensive chemical inputs, our trials are increasingly focused on biostimulants and natural products. So, you could say we're doing our small part to help protect the "100% Pure New Zealand" image.”
To complete his degree requirements, Matheo recently completed a vintage in the Côte de Nuits in Burgundy, and has just returned to Marlborough to start running this season's viticultural trials at BRI.
If you’re interested in discussing a trial idea with him, get in touch at commercial@bri.co.nz or find out more here.
