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.

Located in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough, Yealands Estate has become one of my most favourite New Zealand vineyards. They first came onto my wine radar back in 2009 and 2010 when I met Peter Yealands and his marketing director Simon Kelly when they presented their wines for the first time internationally at a prestigious wine event in London. At the time I was working for New Zealand Wine Growers and the focus for most of us presenting New Zealand wines was the 2008 vintage, which was one of the biggest ever.

Tamra Washington was the winemaker and over the years we struck up a good friendship. I visited the winery in 2014, when Tamra showed me around the winery and most of the vineyards located in the Awatere Valley, including the legendary Seaview vineyard right on the coast. Situated further south from most of the Marlborough vineyards (mainly around the township of Blenheim), the Awatere Valley is much cooler – an important factor for building bright and pristine fruit flavours, texture, and natural acidity. Both Tamra and Simon have now left Yealands and including getting married and having a family are currently working on their own wine projects (Kelly Washington Wines), including still consulting at Seresin Estate. Natalie Christensen is the current winemaker at Yealands Estate, and for me, their wines have gone on to be better than ever.

Breath-taking vistas of rolling hills and wild coastline define Yealands wines. Strong offshore winds encourage the grapes to grow small with thickened skins and wonderfully concentrated characteristics. Yealands Estate Single Vineyard wines showcase the unique environment and the diversity of flavours from this singularly incredible vineyard.

What’s more, Albariño wines are ‘on the up’ in New Zealand, where this fruity Iberian grape variety seems to be flourishing in cool, coastal microclimates, such as Marlborough, amongst other regions. Being maritime influenced, for me Albariño is also a no-brainer with seafood. What’s not to like?

Best enjoyed chilled and in a convivial atmosphere.