Jason grew up in Hawke’s Bay New Zealand, enjoying cold winters playing rugby, hiking, and racing bicycles, Indian summers filled with backyard cricket, softball, swimming, cycle racing and exploring New Zealand. At 20 years old Jason headed to France to race in the tough amateur road racing competition. He raced for a Bordeaux based club for two seasons. After a chance tasting of a 1961 Chateau Haut Brion Magnum, he decided wine was his future.