Portrait of Hatsch Kalberer
i. Biography
The work begins in the vineyard: grow the best grapes, then handle them like a good coach, not a controlling winemaker. That is the line Hatsch Kalberer gives for his own practice, and it sets out the method clearly. The emphasis is on fruit first, cellar second, with enough restraint to let the material hold its own shape. Early in their career, Hatsch Kalberer worked as winemaker at Matawhero Wines in Gisborne, a formative chapter that helped establish the practical foundation of his craft. Today, Hatsch is founding winemaker of FROMM Winery (since 1992), a role that places him at the centre of the winery’s identity and continuity. Over time, his path has come to be defined not by intervention for its own sake, but by a patient confidence in the vineyard’s ability to deliver character when it is carefully tended and gently interpreted. Today At the centre of the work is close observation: read the grapes, then respond with a light hand. Hatsch Kalberer’s own language points to a winemaker who treats the cellar as a place for guidance, not control. Pinot Noir is the variety he uses to make that case most clearly, because he sees it as especially sensitive to variation in site, vineyard input, and handling in the winery.
Career - Founding winemaker, FROMM Winery, Marlborough (1992–present) - Winemaker, Matawhero Wines, Gisborne
Signature
Hatsch's signature wines include FROMM Pinot Noir Cuvée "HH" 2015, Clayvin, and Fromm. Together, these wines sketch a profile of a winemaker working with precision and restraint, with Pinot Noir at the centre of the conversation. The names themselves suggest a focused body of work, where signature bottlings become expressions of a consistent philosophy rather than isolated achievements.
In Their Words “Pinot Noir. No other grape variety I know is so responsive to the slightest environmental variation and the input in the vineyard and gentle handling in the winery.” Taken together, these lines read as a practical brief: pay attention early, intervene lightly, and trust the vineyard to do the heavy lifting. Hatsch Kalberer frames the job in terms of judgement and timing, not force.
Acclaim
The grape variety he highlights is Pinot Noir. “Pinot Noir.”
FAQ What is Hatsch Kalberer's current role? Hatsch Kalberer is Winemaker. Where did Hatsch Kalberer work before? Hatsch Kalberer's earlier career included Matawhero Wines.
The Sunday letter
Get new profiles like Hatsch Kalberer every Sunday.
One email a week with the chefs, winemakers and artisans we have just profiled, and the places they run.
One email a week. Unsubscribe from any issue.
The Sunday letter
Get the next Made By profile in your inbox.
We send one email every Sunday morning with the people we profiled that week.
One email a week. Unsubscribe from any issue.