01 Apr 2025
Yealands a renowned winery based in Marlborough, New Zealand was the first winery in the world to achieve carbon zero certification from the outset. Their commitment to sustainability extends beyond the vineyards and into every aspect of their operations, every day.
Natalie Christensen is a celebrated figure in the wine industry, known for her innovative approach and dedication to quality. Recognised as one of the ‘World’s Most Influential Women in Wine’ in 2018, Natalie leads the winemaking team at Yealands with expertise and passion.
Natalie joined Yealands in 2015 and quickly made her mark. By 2018, she was appointed chief winemaker. Her journey in winemaking spans over 17 years, with experience working in various regions around the world, including France, Spain, the USA, and New Zealand. Before joining Yealands, Natalie honed her skills in Spain, specialising in Albariño wines.
Her innovative winemaking techniques and dedication to quality have earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of the most influential women in wine by Drinks Business Magazine (UK) and the International Wine Challenge’s White Winemaker of the Year trophy.
She’s also a strong advocate for women in the wine industry, encouraging aspiring female winemakers to embrace the unknown, be brave, and take risks. Her leadership and mentorship have inspired many to pursue their passion in winemaking.
Natalie’s aim at Yealands has been to let the site and season shine in their wines, particularly their Sauvignon Blanc. She believes in minimal intervention, allowing the natural balance of the fruit to express itself.
This philosophy aligns with Yealands’ commitment to sustainable winemaking and creating wines that harmonise with their coastal environment.
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (£10.50 Asda, Co-op. Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s & Tesco)
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2024 reflects the beauty and influence of the Marlborough coast. Nestled so close to the ocean, the vines are often misted with sea spray, creating a unique environment that shapes the wine’s character.
The 2024 vintage was remarkable, marked by a hot, dry summer and low rainfall in the Marlborough region. Despite challenges such as early spring frosts, cooler temperatures during flowering, and prolonged dry conditions, the vintage produced wines of exceptional quality. The unique seasonal conditions led to highly concentrated flavours with underlying purity and minerality, hallmarks of Marlborough vineyards.
Under the expert guidance of Natalie, the grapes were harvested their peak flavour development. Each parcel of grapes was picked and fermented separately, enhancing varietal character with carefully selected yeast strains. A long, cool fermentation preserved the purity of flavours, resulting in a beautifully blended wine.
The nose is vibrant with citrus aromas of lime and grapefruit, complemented by fresh herbs, tropical fruits, and a hint of blackcurrant bud. On the palate, the wine reveals flavours of tropical fruits, balanced by crisp citrus acidity and subtle minerality, contributing to its impressive length.
This delicious Sauvignon Blanc pairs beautifully with fresh seafood dishes featuring citrus-based sauces, sushi, goat cheese, or chicken dishes seasoned with herbs like dill or parsley. This wine is also suitable for vegetarians, vegans, and those following a gluten-free diet.
Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 (£17.45 from Vinvm.co.uk)
This Pinot Noir is truly a coastal masterpiece. encourage the grapes to grow small with thickened skins, resulting in wonderfully concentrated characteristics. The vineyard faces some of the toughest growing conditions in Marlborough, including high sunshine and wind, cool nights, and low rainfall. Together with the strong offshore winds These challenging conditions produce smaller, thicker-skinned berries with intense fruit flavours. The grapes for this wine are sourced from four distinct locations within the Seaview Vineyard, ensuring low yields and consistently producing Pinot Noir with excellent structure and flavour.
The 2020 vintage carries unique memories due to the global pandemic crisis.
Despite the challenges, the growing season was very dry, which meant low disease pressure. Timely light rains kept just enough water flowing in the rivers. A classic Marlborough autumn with warm days and cool nights contributed to the signature fresh natural acidity and intense fruit flavours of this season’s wines.
The nose is intense with aromas of blackberries, subtle spice, and cocoa. The palate is powerful and structured, featuring generous ripe black cherry and ripe plum flavours, balanced with fine tannins and hints of oak.
This Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with red meat dishes such as venison and lamb, wood-fired pizza, and loaded nachos.
