Sato

Yoshiaki Sato and his wife Kyoko harbour a deep passion for wine that led them on a unique journey. After careers in international banking in Tokyo and London, they took the bold step toward realizing their wine aspirations by relocating to New Zealand. After a brief period at Lincoln University in Christchurch, where they pursued a graduate diploma in viticulture & viniculture, they eventually found themselves in Central Otago.

"The two do all the viticulture and winemaking themselves to assure the highest quality. It’s this handmade quality that gives their wines wonderful transparency and character."
- James Suckling (Top 100 Wines of NZ 2023)

Yoshiaki Sato honed his craft during a two-year tenure at Felton Road alongside Blair Walters and a time at Mount Edward with Duncan Forsyth. In 2009 they started the the Sato label with a small parcel of organically farmed grapes, crafting their first 250 cases of Pinot Noir. A fervent advocate for organics and biodynamics, Sato adopts a hands-off approach in the winery, relying on natural ferments sans commercial yeasts, eschewing additives in the fermentation process, and employing minimal sulfur just before bottling.

In early 2016, the Satos invested significantly in their future by acquiring a 5-hectare (3.2 hectares effective) east-facing plot on Mount Pisa near Cromwell. This chemical-free site, featuring Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gamay, and Pinot Noir plantings, serves as a testament to their unwavering dedication to sustainable and quality winemaking.