seifried estate Winery
nelson –  New Zealand

HERMANN AND AGNES SEIFRIED – NELSON’S WINEGROWING PIONEERS

The Seifried Estate Winery was founded in the picturesque Moutere Valley and is now located west of the city of Nelson. It was founded in 1973 by Austrian-born Hermann Seifried and his New Zealand wife Agnes. Today, the family business comprises around 325 hectares of vineyards, but the two pioneers started out on a small piece of land of around 2 hectares. This is where they planted the first vines, a selection of 14 classic European grape varieties. The aim was to find out which varieties would best suit the climate and soils of the “new” region on the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island.

Hermann, who originally grew up on an apple orchard in Styria, came to New Zealand in 1971. Here, the young Austrian initially took up a position as an apple winemaker with the New Zealand Apple and Pear Board. He had previously acquired his oenological skills at technical schools in Weinsberg in Baden-Württemberg and Silberberg in Styria. Hermann gained his first valuable experience at KWV, the largest cooperative winery in South Africa.

Agnes, who was born and raised on a sheep farm in Southland, was working as a teacher when she met the young winemaker. They harvested their first vintage together in 1976, when they made five different varietal wines: Riesling, Sylvaner, Chardonnay, Müller-Thurgau and Refosco.

In the early days, wine was sold exclusively through the tiny cellar door at the front of the winery. In addition, the two also shipped their New Zealand wines to friends and relatives who had heard of the wines in those early years.

Today, Agnes and Hermann’s three children are also fully involved in the New Zealand family business. Son Chris Seifried is mainly responsible for winemaking. He has two degrees, in oenology and economics. Before returning to the family business in 2002, he worked at various wineries in Australia, Oregon and Europe.

His sister Heidi supports him in the work in the vineyard and cellar. A trained dentist, she graduated in viticulture and oenology in 2001 and acts as assistant winemaker.

The third member, Anna, is the sales and marketing manager of the family business. She has a degree in wine marketing and returned to New Zealand from Adelaide, Australia in 2003.

Together, the three of them spend a lot of time each year travelling to all corners of the world. At trade fairs, wine tastings and other promotional events, you put a friendly face on the wines of the Seifried family.

NELSON – SUNSHINE CAPITAL OF NEW ZEALAND

With an average of 2,400 hours of sunshine a year, Nelson has earned the title “Sunshine Capital of New Zealand”. The wine-growing region lies at the tip of New Zealand’s South Island. It is surrounded by mountains to the east, west and south, while the cool, clear waters of the Tasman Sea stretch to the north. The gentle sea breeze provides a temperate, mild climate all year round.

In summer, the thermometer can read up to 30 °C. In general, however, the temperature remains at around 25 °C. Just right for the cultivation of elegant New Zealand wines. The warm days and cool nights during the critical ripening period in summer and autumn help to produce wines with intense varietal character, exuberant aromas and balanced natural acidity.

Even winter is pleasant, with mostly warm, sunny days and blue skies. Only rarely are there temperatures as low as -10°C and ground frost. Annual rainfall in Nelson is generally concentrated in the winter months, but is always a welcome change after the dry summers and autumns experienced in the upper south.

As winter subsides in the Northern Hemisphere, the Nelson region prepares for the grape harvest. The grape harvest in Nelson stretches from mid/late March to early May (depending on the time of year), with the grapes being harvested at the peak of their ripeness.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Nelson was known for its horticulture, with hops, tobacco and apples playing an important role in the region’s economy. Hermann Seifried realized that this was also the perfect location for planting vines.

Nelson is also considered the art capital of New Zealand. In addition to winemakers and brewers, it is also home to numerous potters, painters, jewelers and glassblowers.

SINGLE VARIETAL AND SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED WINES FROM NEW ZEALAND

Seifried’s total vineyard area of around 325 hectares is spread over 10 vineyard sites. All are located in the Nelson region and are based on three main soil types:

• Heavy clay soils (of the Redwood Valley Vineyard)
• Sandy-silty coastal sites (in the Rabbit Island, Challies Block, Cornfield Vineyard and Queen Victoria Vineyard sites).
• Rocky riverbeds (in the Brightwater, Edens Road, Clover Road, Lord Rutherford and Red Shed Vineyard sites).

The selection of sites for new vineyards is done after extensive research. This ensures that each site has the appropriate soils, sun exposure and water availability for the varieties to be planted. Such a diversity of microclimates offers exciting opportunities for the production of New Zealand’s premium wines.

Because the fruit comes from their own vineyards, the Seifried family can guarantee complete control over all areas of grape production. This reiciht from the selection of grape variety clones, irrigation, disease control, yield and fruit quality.

Sustainability and conservation of resources is a matter of course for Seifried. The winery is proud to be a member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand. This programme aims to create a framework for viticulture and winemaking practices that protects the environment while enabling efficient and economical production of premium New Zealand grapes and wines. Here is just a sample of the various sustainability measures Seifried undertakes:

• Intelligent collection and use of rainwater
• Minimise tractor passes, also to avoid soil compaction
• Energy efficiency measures in the wine cellar (heat recovery)
• Use of sheep for weed control and fertilisation
• Recycling: For example, 74% of all bottles are made from recycled glass

New Zealand is a country known for its vastness and natural beauty. However, the preservation of the natural environment cannot be taken for granted. For this reason, wineries like Seifried are intensively committed to the protection and preservation of this paradise.