ORGANIC AND NATURAL
NURTURED BY NATURE
What’s Really in Your Wine? The Truth About Modern Winemaking
Most consumers don’t realise just how much goes into the wines they enjoy today. Across most famous varieties, modern winemaking too often relies on additives and technical interventions to shape aroma, flavour, texture, balance, and stability, yet this world behind the label is rarely discussed. Yeast selection allows winemakers to bring out the desired varietal expression, for example strains that emphasise tropical and citrus notes in Sauvignon Blanc, or those that support a rich, Burgundian‑style profile in Chardonnay. Sugar may be added to balance high acidity or raise potential alcohol, acids adjusted to brighten or soften the palate, fining agents clarify and soften, tannins strengthen structure and even gum arabic, used to enhance texture and richness in the mouth. Oak alternatives (staves, chips, inserts) to mimic barrel influence without long maturation.
These interventions require only a few hours of work per batch. Yet such wines often receive high scores from critics, many of whom rarely question how the flavours in the bottle were created.
By contrast, achieving naturally expressive grapes demands season-long, daily labour in the vineyard. Hans is a rare exception, meticulous and tireless, tending the vines with care at every stage: pruning to just two short canes, shoot thinning, leaf plucking, green harvesting, soil cultivation, and hand-picking only the ripest, most luscious bunches. Every grape is nurtured for exceptional concentration and aromatic intensity. Our old vines further lower yields, producing fruit of extraordinary depth and complexity.
In the cellar, patience and careful handling replace additives. The richness, depth, and vibrancy of Hans’ wines come entirely from the vineyard and time allowed for natural fermentations and long maturation. It is this obsessive attention to detail, from vine to bottle, that produces wines of extraordinary character, wines that truly express their origin and vintage.
Consumers may assume that this approach is normal, but in reality, it is rare, and it comes at a high cost. Hans’ wines are the result of relentless craftsmanship, a deep understanding of the vine, and an unwavering commitment to natural excellence. Each bottle stands as a testament to what is possible when nature is nurtured rather than overridden.
NURTURE BY NATURE
Small Batch Production: Limited to less than 2,000 cases annually, ensuring exclusivity and quality.
Hands-On Owner: A rare case where the owner is also the viticulturist and winemaker, prioritizing quality over commercial considerations.
Estate-Grown Grapes: All grapes are exclusively grown in our 11.5ha estate vineyard, guaranteeing provenance and authenticity.
On-Site Winery: Hand-picked fruit is promptly in Hans's hands, bypassing transport and sulfur, ensuring unmatched quality from grape to bottle, all on-site under one roof.
Handpicked and Hand-Selected: ensuring utmost quality.
Extremely Low Yields: No free run juice extraction results in naturally concentrated, balanced, and flavourful wines.
Certified Organic: Enjoy wines free from synthetic chemicals.
Vegan Wine: Our hand-picked, pure fruit eliminates the need for any fining agents.
Natural Winemaking:
- No corrective methods, preserving the wine's natural character.
- Wild fermentation with no added yeast or nutrients, for authentic taste.
- No residual sugar, providing a pure wine experience without extra calories enhancing fullness and smoothness naturally."
- No additions of sugar, acid, tannin, bacteria, or enzymes, and only minimal sulphur for longevity protection, for true expression of the vineyard.
- Unfiltered: No filtration for reds (coarse filtration for some whites), maintaining full flavour.
- No Cold Stabilization: Preserving the wine's natural essence.
Premium French Oak Barrels: Maturing from 18 to 30 months, adding depth and complexity.
Extensive Bottle Ageing: Enjoy at the optimum drinking stage, for maximum enjoyment.
We believe great wines originate from a pure terroir, shaped by an eco-friendly environment and natural winemaking. In 2007, we committed to certifying our entire estate through Biogro - NZ Organic Certification to prove that high-quality wines can be enjoyed without harming the environment. Marlborough's dry climate, market by strong winds and cool nights, suits organic practices, albeit requiring substantially more manual labour. Our healthy and vibrant fruit allow us to craft some of New Zealand's most age-worthy wines that authentically express the unique terroir and a profound 'sense of place'. Our organic philosophy extends beyond winemaking, encompassing a holistic commitment to sustainability.
Therese Herzog - Owner and General Manager
"We are deeply connected to our vineyard, and it brings us joy to see our team working in a healthy environment. Having a vineyard with functional biodiversity and a thriving ecosystem is immensely satisfying. Strong, naturally resilient plants need no pesticides. Tasks, where ever possible, are aligned with the astrological calendar. Our commitment is to leave this land in a healthier state than when we found it, ensuring it's ready for the next generation. We take pride in contributing positively to our planet's well-being."
Hans Herzog - Owner and Vigneron
OUR SHARED PHILOSPHY
We are proud to collaborate with other organic producers who share our commitment to preserving one of the world's most beautiful places: Marlborough.
MANA Winegrowers We are a collective of organic farmers who live, work, and thrive in Marlborough. Our shared commitment is to handcraft wines of integrity, exchange knowledge, and continue nurturing our land for the betterment of generations to come.
Picture: Clos Henri Winery, MANA Winegrowers