Sorrell Wines

Daniel Sorrell’s journey into winemaking was unconventional. After nearly a decade in corporate banking in London, a harvest experience in France rekindled his connection to nature, rooted in his upbringing on a New Zealand farm. This pivotal moment led him back to New Zealand to study oenology in Hawke’s Bay. His career progressed through roles in Australia’s Swan Valley and Margaret River, as well as premium wineries in New Zealand before he established Sorrell Wines to pursue a more hands-on, artisanal approach.

Sorrell Wines sources grapes from three esteemed Marlborough vineyards, each contributing unique characteristics to the wines. 

“It’s humbling to take their fruit and work closely with them to achieve what I think is the best for Sorrell Wines.” – Daniel Sorrell, Verve, 2023

Auntsfield Estate

Established in 1873, this historic vineyard features Greywacke rock and Loess clay soils. The site yields structured wines with notable minerality and texture, particularly Sauvignon Blanc.

The Wrekin

A biodynamically farmed hillside vineyard with diverse gravel and rock soils. Its practices promote biodiversity, producing fruit with intense varietal expression and bright acidity.

Churton

Situated on an elevated, northeast-facing slope, Churton’s clay-loess soils over alluvial gravels support dry farming. The vineyard’s organic methods foster a healthy microbial ecosystem, contributing to the complexity of its Pinot Noir.

“I want to showcase the vineyards and fruit purity. My wines are crafted with minimal intervention, and I use no new oak. I used no yeast – my ferments start in the vineyard five days before picking. From there, I transfer the culture to the batch. I believe this is really important to keep everything site-specific.” – Daniel Sorrell, Wine Folio, 2023.

Daniel shared with us, just days before harvest, he walks through the vineyard, gathering fruits and flowers from the surrounding canopy. From there, he creates a natural starter, his way of cultivating indigenous yeast unique to that exact place and time. It’s a simple, thoughtful ritual that connects the wine back to the land it came from, capturing the essence of the vineyard in the most honest way possible.

The wines are aged in used French oak barrels to preserve fruit purity and structure. For instance, the 2021 Wrekin Pinot Noir underwent a cold soak and fermentation with no new oak, highlighting the vineyard’s character. Similarly, the Chardonnay is crafted in a Chablis-inspired style, fermented in older barrels to maintain freshness and minerality.