06/08/2026
🍷 Such sad news - Czech-born w**emaking pioneer Daniel “Danny” Schuster has died.
Danny helped build Canterbury’s w**e industry almost from the ground up. Born in Prague in 1949, he arrived in Christchurch in 1974 after studying and working in vineyards across Australia, South Africa, Bordeaux and Burgundy.
He went on to plant Canterbury’s first hillside vineyard and, in 1982, produced New Zealand’s first nationally awarded gold medal-winning Pinot Noir. Long before organic and un-irrigated vineyards became fashionable, Danny was already showing what was possible.
His influence reached far beyond New Zealand. He worked with renowned w**eries in California and Tuscany, and in 2002 his contribution to Californian w**emaking earned him a permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
But for me, Danny was much more than a famous w**emaker.
I used to bring my Czech tour groups to the Daniel Schuster w**ery, and those visits were always unforgettable. My clients drank plenty of w**e with him - because when Danny poured a tasting, it was often half a glass, not the tiny sliver normally found at the bottom! 🍷
There was always wonderful w**e, fascinating conversation and lots of laughter. And Danny could chat about absolutely anything in Czech! Although he had not regularly used the language for many years, he still spoke it remarkably well. My Czech clients absolutely loved meeting this extraordinary Prague-born man who had become one of New Zealand’s greatest w**emakers.
Danny was known for generously sharing his knowledge and never expecting anything in return. He simply wanted everyone around him to become better.
A week after his death, his family and close friends opened one of his legendary 1982 St Helena Pinot Noirs. More than four decades later, the w**e was still outstanding - full of character, charisma and life.
Very much like Danny himself.
Rest in peace, Danny. Thank you for the w**e, the laughter and the memories. Na zdraví. 🍷🇨🇿🇳🇿
His family honoured him by uncorking his legendary 43-year-old Pinot Noir that made New Zealand w**e history.
