Spent a wonderful long afternoon tasting wines and touring the impressive property at Yealands, outside of Seddon in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. I was truly awestruck by the amount of vines planted here; the above view just hints at what's going on. Driving into the winery, it's an unbroken, endless vista of vineyards as far as the eye can see. This is your first view of the winery. What's more impressive than the structure is what's going on inside and out. "Sustainability" is buzz word thrown around a lot in the wine business, and business in general, but I'm not sure there is a winery with a bigger commitment than Yealands. I won't bore you with details, but just illustrate a few small examples: Wetlands to capture rainfall, 350kg-worth of bailed vine prunings burned for fuel, and sheep instead of tractors to "mow" between rows of vines. (Note that these are a special miniature breed of sheep that are not tall enough to reach the grapes!) Once again I have been distracted by the scenery in New Zealand (don't worry, more photos to follow), but allow me to focus on the wines. While I tried a myriad of bottles, I want to focus on my two favorites that also happened to be the most intriguing as well. (Honorable Mention goes to the Tempranillo.) The Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc was a revelation. Take everything you love about zesty, lively, thirst-slaking Sauvignon Blanc and add bubbles. I could drink an ocean of this stuff! This needs to make its way to the States, posthaste! Great Gewurztraminer, too. I couldn't get over the gorgeous ginger aromas and flavors; light and fresh without that oily bluntness of some Gewurtz. And now back to the views. Here's a shot looking back at the winery: And when you turn around, it's the ocean: Now where's my well-chilled bottle of Sparkling Sauv Blanc?!?