ESSES

Esses Estate nestled at the base of the snow-capped peaks of Mt Fyffe in Kaikoura. The stony soils heat up during the day and the gentle sea breezes providing cooling influences, creating a stunning long ripening period. Esses name simply meaning plural of “S” and celebrates the terroir and natural influences of the vineyard and of course the Skinner name, all of which begin with the letter ‘S.’ Mel and Aaron are passionate sparkling lovers and having searched the world found a gorgeous little plot of vines located in the magnificent foothills of Kaikoura. Esses is the only vineyard with Kaikoura township and specialises solely in Méthode Traditionnelle.

The process of making Méthode Traditionnelle is a labour of love for Mel and Aaron. Méthode Traditionnelle is the process used by premium sparkling wine producers, most famous for its use in Champagne. It is a labour-intensive technique that is recognised for producing the most refined, complex, and age-worthy examples of sparkling wine. We spend the first 12 months making a high quality still wine, which is then bottled and undergoes a secondary fermentation with the bottle. It is then left to mature for a minimum of 36 months, during which time it goes through a process of ‘autolysis’ that adds complexity and richness to the wine and lifted aromatics. Esses wine is a member of Méthode Marlborough, a grower lead society passionate about creating world class sparkling.