Winemaking

Expression of Seaview

Our winemaking philosophy at Yealands is to let the wines express their sense of place. This means we like to do minimal intervention and adjustments to the natural balance of the fruit received each harvest. Luckily out at our Seaview Vineyard we are blessed with fruit that has been expertly managed in the vineyard and comes from an exceptional site. Due to this, it invariably comes into the winery free of disease, full of flavour and with great potential for structure and balance.

Chief Winemaker

Natalie Christensen

Natalie is a gifted winemaker with 17 years of experience working in France, Spain, USA and Aotearoa, with stints at notable New Zealand wineries Saint Clair Family Estate and Matahiwi Estate. Prior to joining Yealands, Natalie was Winemaker at La Cana in Rias Baixas, Spain, making albariño for the Jorge Ordonez group.

Far from being your average winemaker, Natalie is a classically trained double bass player with a Bachelor of Music from Canterbury University, in addition to a Master of Science and Graduate Diploma in Oenology.

Natalie was named one of the most influential women in wine in the world by the Drinks Business Magazine (UK) in 2018, and won the International Wine Challenge’s White Winemaker of the Year trophy in 2023.

Natalie joined Yealands in 2014, becoming Chief Winemaker in 2019.

OUR HOME

Discover Yealands Estate

One of New Zealand's most coastal and sustainable vineyards.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, from the vineyard to the glass we are exploring new ways of protecting our land, minimising carbon emissions and preserving and enhancing our natural enviornment.

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Vineyard

Seaview Vineyard is one of the most coastal vineyards in New Zealand with breath-taking views across the Cook Strait.

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Come Visit

Discover our spectacular coastal vineyard in the Awatere Valley, nestled in the foothills of the Kaikoura ranges, with breath-taking vistas across the Cook Strait.

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