Roving Sommelier is passionate about premium quality New Zealand regional wines. Award-winning sommelier, Robert Giorgione is also a New Zealand Wine Brand Ambassador and enthusiastically goes about his work with great passion and knowledge and positively promotes all the New Zealand winegrowers that he represents.

I have a long-standing relationship with Seresin Estate which has lasted many years. Former cinematographer and film maker, Michael Seresin and his wonderful Marlborough-based vineyard first came onto my wine radar back in the mid-1990s. Their original winemaker was the very talented Brian Bicknell, with whom I struck up a great friendship. Moreover, Seresin Estate was one of the first vineyards in New Zealand that I visited, which was when I first toured the country in 2001/02. Over the years, whenever I have returned to New Zealand, I have always made the effort to visit Seresin and to see what has been going on and to see how the vineyards and wines have developed. In addition, I also have vintage harvest experience when I worked in New Zealand in 2006 after leaving Harvey Nichols in London and before starting at Orrery Restaurant later that year. For me, not only was it great experience to work the vintage harvest at Seresin and other New Zealand boutique wineries, but also it gave me a greater insight into their winemaking and learning more about the wines about which I am passionate.

The image of the hand is a symbol of strength, gateway to the heart, tiller of the soil, the mark of the artisan and embodies the philosophy of Seresin Estate.

Seresin Marama is an incredibly rich and layered interpretation of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Hand-picked from the biodynamic Raupo Creek vineyard, in the middle of the Omaka Valley. Marama embodies wild fermentation and extended ageing in French oak barrels with a portion of new, for up to 15 months. Juicy, drinkable and far, far less strident than the average New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, this offers rich texture, a mouthful of herbs and tea and a heady waft of citrus, elderflower, and honeycomb.

Seresin Estate is certified organic and practices biodynamic winegrowing and farming. They also produce a cracking olive oil at the estate.

Best enjoyed chilled and in a convivial atmosphere.