Winery Overview
Yealands Estate is New Zealand’s largest privately owned winery and largest CarboNZero-certified winery in the world. Whether recycling grape marc for fertilization, burning prunings in place of fuel, or re-establishing wetlands to preserve native wildlife, the Yealands team believes that wines produced in harmony with nature offer the purest expressions of New Zealand’s distinctive terroir and result in a more refined finished product.
The Yealands team is an energetic, innovative group of individuals with a passion for wine and an appreciation of the environment. In constant pursuit of cutting-edge, unconventional methods for reducing their carbon footprint, the Yealands team prides itself on its resourcefulness and ambition. At the heart of Yealands culture is the fearless vision and determined spirit of Peter Yealands. Peter and the Yealands team aim to be the most sustainable producer of premium wines in the world; an aspiration supported by Peter’s philosophy, “Think boldly, tread lightly.”
Location of Vineyard
Yealands Estate is located in the heart of New Zealand’s celebrated Marlborough region. Yealands Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from two estate-owned Awatere vineyards that stretch from the foothills of the Seaward Kaikoura Ranges to the undulating downs overlooking Cook Strait. While enjoying low rainfall and high sunshine that is typical of the region, the land lies in one of the windiest stretches of Marlborough. This, together with the rugged terrain and high soil minerality, produces a distinctive and intense range of flavors.
Winemaking Philosophy
The Yealands team believes in producing wines in harmony with nature, respecting New Zealand’s distinctive terroir and making every effort to reduce their impact on the land. They achieve this using of sheep to graze between rows of vines, which reduces the need for spraying and tractors, and have re-established 25 wetland areas to capture rainfall for gradual release into the soil, encouraging native flora and fauna. They also use vine prunings as sustainable fuel to create heat, solar panels and wind turbines with the aim of self-sufficiency, and on-site wastewater treatment and reuse.
At the heart of Yealands Estate is the determined spirit and unconventional thinking of founder and principal Peter Yealands. Happiest with his sleeves rolled up, out working the land, Peter has a track record of innovation and entrepreneurial success; he is the integral component to the success of the winery. His larger-than-life personality helps distinguish the Yealands brand from competitors.
Tamra Washington, Yealands estate winemaker, is regarded as one of the rising stars of New Zealand’s wine industry. Despite her young age, she has already captured attention for crafting award-winning wines in Europe.
After completing her oenology and viticulture degree at Lincoln University, Tamra’s first job was in the laboratory at Seresin Estate. She spent the following years working in Napa Valley, Australia’s Hunter Valley and the Margaret River area, followed by four years as head winemaker for the Calastrasi Group, for whom she oversaw wineries in Sicily, Puglia and Tunisia. Before returning home, she completed vintages at Evan and Tate in Australia and Kim Crawford in New Zealand and worked as a “flying winemaker,” overseeing production from Italy’s northern Veneto region for the Sainsbury supermarket group.