New Zealand wine, global expertise
Whilst the wines of Seifried are proudly grounded in New Zealand soil, there has never been any parochialism when it comes to drawing inspiration and influence, and using those learnings to make the most of their wine’s potential.
Hermann’s upbringing in cool climate Austria gave him a natural advantage not only in recognising Nelson’s potential, but in identifying grapes that would grow perfectly in the region. Several of the varieties he and Agnes originally grafted would be familiar sights in Austrian vineyards, and classic Austrian varieties such a Zweigelt and Riesling remain a core part of the winery’s identity today.
His scholarship at Germany’s oldest viticultural school, LVWO and the three years he spent making wine in South Africa made him possibly the first university-trained winemaker in the country – and with the perfect balance of experience making wines both in cool climate and high-sunlight regions.
The international connections continued long after the Seifrieds were well-established in Nelson. Hermann and Agnes’ oldest daughter, Heidi Seifried Houghton, recalls a steady stream of international visitors long before the winery was established overseas, whilst Agnes and Hermann maintain a tradition of selecting a new wine region from around the world to visit every year, understanding – as they have from the very start – that it is by looking outward that they can most fully express the character of their Nelson home.
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