Grower Website Seresin Region: New Zealand

Estate grown grapes from organic and biodynamic vineyards are handpicked and transformed into artisan wines through gentle, traditional winemaking – wine of passion, grace and spirit.

Michael Seresin was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but left in the 1960s, when sheep, not grapevines, covered the Wairau Plains. He settled in Italy, where he was captivated by Italian food and wine culture, and began his career as a cinematographer. Over time Michael’s interest in wine developed into a passion. In the early 1990s after investigating opportunities to start a winery in Italy, he became aware of the quality wines starting to emerge from his homeland. After visiting Marlborough, and falling in love with the Marlborough Sounds, Michael decided to purchase a home there, followed by the purchase of some land in the Wairau Valley, which became Seresin’s Home Vineyard. Planting of vines began immediately, followed by the importation and planting of Tuscan olive varieties and significant plantings of natives.

Seresin’s first vintage was in 1996 and the winery was completed in mid-2000. A year later, the Tatou Vineyard was purchased and land in the Omaka Valley was purchased for development into what is now the Raupo Creek Vineyard. Acknowledging Seresin’s ongoing commitment to sound environmental practices as a winegrower, Seresin won the Marlborough District Council’s 2009 Marlborough Environment Award.

WINEMAKERS

Winemaker Clive Dougall shaped the style of Seresin wines beginning in 2006. In 2016, after five years working with Clive, Jordon Hoog was named winemaker. That same year, Jordon won the Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year award. The two of them were leaders in biodynamic agriculture and winemaking practices, which they have passed down to Tamra Kelly-Washington, who succeeded Jordon in 2018. Tamra grew up in Marlborough and earned a degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Lincoln University. Her first position was in the lab at Seresin Estate. She then spent time in California, Hunter Valley and Margaret River, and Sicily. She returned to New Zealand and Australia, and joined Seresin for the 2018 harvest.

VINEYARDS

Home Vineyard:
Located in the central pocket of the Wairau Valley, the certified organic 45 hectare vineyard is made up of free-draining Waimakariri soils. The land is planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, and Riesling. Olive groves, orchards, and vegetable gardens are an important part of the vineyard and add to the diversity of the Estate.

Raupo Creek Vineyard:
The Raupo Creek vineyard is located at the foothills of the Omaka Valley. The clay rich soils of the 51 hectare vineyard are ideal for growing Pinot Noir. The land is also planted with Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Viognier. An additional 25 hectares are planted with olive groves and vegetable patches, and used for farmland and pasture. The entire property is managed organically and in transition towards certification.

Tatou Vineyard:
The Tatou vineyard is surrounded with olive trees and planted in Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The 15 hectare property is certified organic and located slightly west of the Home Vineyard in the Wairau Valley. The fruit from Tatou’s alluvial shingle soils produces very concentrated aromatic wines with structured tannins.