Recommended Product
To share this product with your friends just fill in the form below and click Send
An estate that first caught our eye in November last year and thrilled us earlier this week is Yealands Estate in Marlborough. Yealands Estate is one of the most exciting new ventures to have emerged from New Zealand. Comprising 1,000 hectares in Marlborough’s famous Awatere Valley, 25 kilometres south of Blenheim, along the southeastern coastline. Family-owned, Yealands Estate is the single largest vineyard in private ownership in New Zealand. www.yealands.co.nz
In 2002, founder Peter Yealands began transforming the rolling hills and gullies that many considered too steep for viticulture into terraced vineyard blocks of unprecedented scale. Peter does nothing in half-measures. A big burley man who left school at 14 and made his fortune being and early investor in Marlborough’s mussel farming, he has established this estate which is in breathtaking proportions. He pioneered the use of GPS technology to position the rows and invented a now patented protection device to shield the fledgling vines. Underpinning the entire vineyard development he has driven a total commitment to excellence in sustainable practices. In keeping with Peter Yealands’ dedication to the principles of quality and sustainability throughout his operation, and to the creation of a Carbon Neutral environment, the $NZ45 million, 7,100 m2 Yealands Estate winery is the first in the world to be developed from initial design through to construction in compliance with the draft Green Star NZ Industrial rating requirements. It is targeting a 6 Green Star rating under the new certification code, which when achieved will signify “world leadership” status in green building design and operation.
But it was the quality of the Yealands wine (made by rising star Tamra Washington with consultancy from international consultant & fellow Kiwi, Matt Thomson) which first got us excited, well before we learned of their first class environmental credentials. Low rainfall, high sunshine, cool nights and cooling breezes, combined with outstanding skill in the winery resulted in beautiful white wines with the ability to dazzle from the off. View Video: http://www.yealands.co.nz/yealandsvideo.asp
Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2008
Intense lifted mineral and lifted herb characters (typical of excellent NZ Sauvignon Blanc) can be found on the nose, the palate is well structured and elegant with superb balance and elegance. The flavours consist of a classic combination of zesty citrus with archetypal nettle/asparagus hints. This Marlborough wine relies on purity of fruit and not on residual sugar content to appeal meaning the finish is refreshing and long. Pound for pound this is amongst the finest NZSB released from the 2008 vintage. It is worth noting that the Yealands team pick 50 different parcels of SB from their Seaview Estate vineyard, each one is vinified separately. Only the top 9 were selected for this, the Estate’s top wine.
Also available: Yealands Mixed Whites Case
HarperWells is pleased to offer other wines from the Yealands Estate, which can be accessed by clicking here. If you have any questions or require further information, please call the HarperWells office on 0844 335 8324 or email sip@harperwells.com