Founded in 1978 by Tim and Judy Finn on the Moutere soils in Nelson, Neudorf Vineyards is one of New Zealand’s pioneer estates, known for low yields, organic farming, and terroir-first winemaking. Its Chardonnay has been hailed as one of New Zealand’s most iconic wines since winning international acclaim in 1993 with a top prize at a global tasting hosted by WINE magazine in the UK, and receiving a perfect 100-point score for the 2014 Moutere Chardonnay from Master of Wine Bob Campbell, the first New Zealand wine to receive this rating.Rosie Finn, daughter of the founders, is the second generation to lead Neudorf. After working in the wine trade in London, she returned home to join the family business in September 2016, and currently works with Todd Stevens, winemaker and General Manager, on the winery’s global strategy. We spoke with Rosie Finn ahead of her visit to Japan in May.〈Anri Nakamura Cohen, Strategy Director, January 2026〉Q: Initially, you didn’t expect to join Neudorf. Why was that, and what changed?Growing up on the vineyard, I assumed the only real role was to be the winemaker. I wasn’t very good at science and loved working with people, so I didn’t see a natural place for myself — and my parents never pushed me. I studied design and photography instead, drawn to the collaborative nature of creative work, and later moved to London.It was there that I discovered the trade side of wine, which really clicked for me. I loved the connection between people, markets, and storytelling, and that’s what eventually brought me home. Todd, and Stef Brockley, our viticulturalist, take care of the technical side, which allows me to focus on sharing our story — although in a small business like ours, you’re always closely connected to viticulture and winemaking.Beyond work, I love life in Nelson, where I balance family time with our four-year-old and weekends on the water fishing or scuba diving. My favourite experience is kingfish sashimi on the boat with a glass of Alberiño — and I’m very much looking forward to experiencing Japan’s seafood culture firsthand.Q: We’re excited to have you here too. So, what’s new at the winery?The 2026 vintage is only just getting underway, but so far things are looking positive. A warm, dry start has been a welcome change after a few challenging seasons, with even budburst and healthy vines across the vineyard. It’s still early days, but it’s been a calm and reassuring start to the season.Looking longer term, we’re focused on steady improvements rather than big changes. All three blocks — Home Block, Rosie’s Block and Tom’s Block — have been fully organic since 2016, the winery runs on solar power, and we bottle exclusively in lightweight glass.Q: Neudorf is well known for Chardonnay, but you’ve also been experimenting with alternative varieties. How do these wines fit together?At its heart, Neudorf is a Chardonnay house, built on one iconic wine: Home Block Moutere Chardonnay. The vines were planted in 1978 and are among the oldest commercially planted Chardonnay vines in New Zealand’s South Island. Grafted onto rootstock, they’ve never required replanting. The wine is complex, with powerful and expressive flavours, while not overly dominated by buttery or oaky notes. After more than 45 years, it remains the cornerstone of the estate and a defining expression of Neudorf’s philosophy.In contrast, Rosie’s Block, planted in 1999, sits on a north-facing slope with deep sandy loam and represents a more lifted, site-driven expression of Chardonnay. The fruit from this block has also proven well suited to amphora fermentation, allowing the vineyard character to clearly come through. Comparing barrel-aged and amphora-aged wines highlights the diversity of the fruit from this vineyard.The Tiritiri range uses both estate and contract-grown fruit, offering a great expression of Neudorf Chardonnay at a more accessible price point. Across the range, all wines are fermented with natural yeast, a key element of our house style.We also began planting alternative varieties as part of our response to climate change. Growing organically in Nelson brings challenges, particularly with higher rainfall and Pinot Noir accounting for around 30% of our plantings. We wanted something more resilient, and Alberiño proved ideal — it grows well here and naturally complements New Zealand’s seafood-driven cuisine. When a variety truly suits a place, the balance feels effortless.Q: How is climate change impacting Neudorf?The hardest part is the drama — one year it’s too hot, the next too wet. Incremental change is manageable, but dramatic swings from season to season are far more challenging. One advantage of being a small winery is that while consistency of quality is expected, vintage variation is also valued, allowing us to work with the climate rather than against it.Organic viticulture plays a key role. With proactive vineyard management, the vines cope well under pressure, and Todd and Stef’s meticulous work ensures the wines remain true to site and season, year after year.PICKUP WINES#13111 Neudorf Home Block Moutere Chardonnay 2023 (Screw Cap)Variety: Chardonnay 100%Alc. 13.9%RRP incl. tax￥16,500The 42nd vintage of this flagship wine. Vineyards planted in 1978. Naturally fermented in French oak barrels (15% new). Periodically stirred on full lees until completion of MLF, followed by 3 months on fine lees in stainless steel. Unfined. Powerful yet restrained flavours of apricot, yuzu and oyster shell.#13092 Neudorf Rosie’s Block Amphora Chardonnay 2023 (Screw Cap)Variety: Chardonnay 100%Alc.13.8％RRP incl. tax￥8,800Planted in 1999. Naturally fermented in amphorae. Aged for 10 months on gross lees followed by 2 months on fine lees in stainless steel. 100% MLF. Unfined. Full-bodied fruit with beeswax aromas. A refined, modern flavour with just the right amount of weight for nuance.#13110 Neudorf Rosie’s Block Moutere Chardonnay 2023 (Screw Cap)Variety: Chardonnay 100%Alc.14.3％RRP incl. tax￥8,800Planted in 1999. Naturally fermented in French oak barrels (15% new). Periodically stirred on lees for 10 months, followed by 2 months on fine lees in stainless steel. 100% MLF. Unfined. Vibrant fruit melds with oak barrel notes and flinty minerality, exuding Moutere’s signature refinement and elegance.