Hans Herzog

Five Centuries of Winemaking, Replanted in Marlborough

Hans Herzog carries 500 years of Swiss winemaking heritage in his blood - and sold the family estate to start again on the other side of the world. That is not the act of someone chasing a trend. It is the conviction of a man who found a piece of land in Marlborough and knew, with absolute certainty, that something extraordinary was possible here.

The Hans Herzog estate sits on the right bank of the Wairau River - arid, stony, free-draining soils that reminded Hans of the Medoc. One of the warmest and most valuable blocks in Marlborough, it is a site of exceptional potential in the hands of someone willing to push it. Hans is that person.

Nominated for Wine Enthusiast's New World Winery of the Year in 2020, Hans Herzog is one of New Zealand's most decorated small estates - and one of the most singular voices in Marlborough wine.

A True Vigneron - From Vine to Bottle

Despite holding a Master's degree in Oenology, Hans describes himself as a vigneron rather than a winemaker. He hand-prunes, hand-picks, and works according to the astrological calendar - every decision made with the long view in mind. Yields are kept extremely low, concentrating the goodness of each vine into fruit of remarkable intensity and health.

His wife Therese is his partner in everything - collaborator, confidante, and an equal force behind the relentless drive for quality that defines this estate. Together they farm just 11.5 hectares, releasing only what meets their exacting standards.

The resulting wines are some of New Zealand's most age-worthy - expressing the unique terroir and microclimate of Marlborough with a precision that only comes from total, uncompromising control of every step in the process.

The Marlborough Terroir That Makes It Possible

The Herzog vineyard benefits from Marlborough's exceptional sunshine hours and long, dry autumns - conditions that allow even the most demanding late-ripening varieties to achieve perfect physiological ripeness. Cool nights, typically more than 10 degrees below daytime temperatures, lock in natural acidity and build extraordinary varietal intensity.

Beneath the vines, deep layers of stony alluvial soils - deposited over millennia by the Wairau River - drain freely and reflect heat back onto the fruit. The variation within the soil profile is remarkable, and Hans has matched each grape variety to its ideal block with the care of someone who has spent decades learning exactly what this land can do.

The range that results is unlike any other in New Zealand. Alongside Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, Hans grows Nebbiolo (98 points and one of New Zealand's finest reds), Blaufrankisch, Lagrein, Montepulciano, Arneis, Saperavi, Zweigelt, and more - varieties that have no business performing this well this far from home, yet do so with distinction every vintage. Hans Herzog wines are stocked at Great Little Vineyards at Orakei Bay Village in Remuera, Auckland, and available for delivery across New Zealand. Visit the Hans Herzog website to learn more about the estate.