Seifried Estate Winery is located in the picturesque Moutere Valley, near the town of Nelson. It was founded in 1973 by Austrian-born Hermann Seifried and his New Zealand wife Agnes. Today, the family business covers around 325 hectares of vineyards, but the two pioneers started on a small piece of land of about 2 hectares. Here they planted the first vines, a compilation 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 at the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island.
Hermann, who originally grew up on a Styrian apple orchard, came to New Zealand in 1971. Here, the young Austrian first took up a position as an apple winemaker with the New Zealand Apple and Pear Bord. He had previously acquired his oenological skills at technical schools in Weinsberg in Baden-Württemberg and in Silberberg in Styria. Hermann gained his first valuable experience at the largest cooperative winery in South Africa, KWV.
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.
