Jeremy Maarschalk, one of WineLand Media’s 2025 30 Under 30. Photo: Fagan (winelands.social).
At the heart of Waterford Estate’s success story is a quiet force with a loud impact: Jeremy Maarschalk. At just 28, Jeremy isn’t merely part of the wine industry; he’s helping reshape it. Recently recognised as one of WineLand Media's 2025 30 Under 30, he joins a league of bold changemakers reimagining what wine means in today’s world. But spend even five minutes with Jeremy, and you’ll realise: his secret isn’t just strategy – it’s soul.
“Wine is people.”
This isn’t a marketing tagline for Jeremy. It’s a belief system – one that today’s wine drinkers, especially millennials and the emerging Gen Z crowd, are increasingly embracing.
Gone are the days when prestige was defined solely by Parker points or first-growth classifications. Today, a new generation of wine lovers is looking for meaning and connection. They want to know who made their wine, how it was made, and why. They’re not just collecting bottles; they’re collecting stories.
Digital doesn’t replace human connection, it enhances it.
As part of the Marketing team at Waterford Estate, Jeremy has never treated online tools as loudspeakers. For him, they are instruments of intimacy and ways to bring people closer to the vineyards, the cellar, and the philosophy. Whether it’s through beautifully crafted emails, immersive social storytelling, or conversations that carry offline into the estate experience, Jeremy’s work bridges technology with authenticity.
Through Jeremy’s influence, wine becomes more than a product; it becomes a shared experience.
Jeremy's impact captured in WineLand Media’s June "30 Under 30" feature – described by writer Ingerése Schoeman as "the people person."
The rise of experience over ego.
According to Wine Enthusiast, millennials are drinking less, but better. They’re also buying more wine over $15 than any previous generation. And more importantly? They’re craving experiences, not elitism.
At Waterford, that’s always been part of the philosophy – something Jeremy amplifies. From immersive tastings to moments that highlight the land, the people, and the values behind each bottle, the estate lives and breathes the “experience economy.” Jeremy ensures that the story is told in a way that resonates deeply with those who value sustainability, artistry, and a sense of belonging.
A generation of paradoxes and purpose.
As Wine Enthusiast puts it, millennials are “paradoxically more rooted and more adventurous.” They want bold wines and new varietals. Legacy and disruption. Jeremy stands at the crossroads of those tensions, holding fast to Waterford’s heritage while innovating with clarity and compassion.
He’s not loud. He’s intentional. And that may just be the loudest message the wine industry needs to hear right now.
Ingerése Schoeman from WineLand Media described him as |the people person" – and rightly so. In an industry rooted in tradition, Jeremy is building relationships. He’s not just marketing wine; he’s cultivating community — one connection, one conversation, one glass at a time.
Robin Shaw, founder of Wine Tourism Australia, captures it perfectly: great moments aren’t accidental – they’re born from memorable experiences rooted in genuine storytelling. What lingers isn’t just facts or actions, but how a person feels long after the moment has passed.
In today’s wine world, success hinges on emotional connections – on crafting moments that resonate, sharing stories that truly matter, and creating a sense of place that guests carry with them.
This human-centred approach isn’t a passing fad. It’s quietly rewriting the future of wine, where luxury is measured not by status but by meaning, mindfulness, and curiosity. Millennials and Gen Z aren’t the last chapter; they’re opening a new book – one filled with richer experiences and deeper connections.