The Esses Wine Company

Esses is a boutique vineyard situated in the picturesque landscape of Kaikōura, founded and operated by Melinda and Aaron Skinner since 2011.

The vineyard is covered by a Spectacular Sky, framed by Snow-capped Summits, overlooks a Stunning Sea, is grounded by Stoney Soil, and is an oasis of Serenity for its owners and visitors.

Esses wines capture the essence of the estate and its awe-inspiring environment, all starting with the letter “S”. Esses specialise in Méthode Traditionelle, the French-inspired sparkling wine.

Many have questioned whether Kaikōura is a suitable wine region, and our results have proven all doubters wrong. Kaikōura has a unique micro climate that rivals some of the best sparkling wine regions in the world.
All our grapes are hand-harvested, ensuring only premium quality is picked. Once harvested, all grapes go through a careful secondary selection process by us, the owners.
We take a very hands-on, sustainable approach to viticulture limiting the use of chemicals and machinery where possible.