Kelly Washington

Marlborough, Auckland, Central Otago

Kelly Washington Wines is a boutique winery producing small-batch, single-vineyard wines that authentically reflect the terroir of New Zealand’s diverse wine regions.
Founded in 2016 by experienced winemakers Tamra Kelly-Washington and her husband Simon Washington. They seek out the most unique and diverse parcels of vines, and work with a fastidious bunch of growers who have a love for the land, and are unrelenting in their pursuit of nurturing exceptional fruit from distinguished sites. Old vines, high density planting, vineyards of altitude, organic and biodynamic farming – these are the attributes they seek from the growers they work with.

Working with such exceptional fruit, their aim is to is to showcase and explore sub regionality, but moreover make wines of which are elegant, honest, and truly reflect the land they're from.

Co-Founder and Winemaker

Tamra Kelly-Washington

Tamra has held many prominent winemaking roles for various estates in the USA, Australia, and Italy, where she was appointed Head Winemaker for a winery in Sicily (with others in Puglia and Tunisia) at the age of 25.
She later became the Chief Winemaker at Seresin Estate, where she was recognised for her expertise in organic and biodynamic viticulture. And when the time came to start a family, she created Kelly Washington Wines with husband Simon.

She has established herself as a leader in crafting premium, small-batch wines she’s known for her dedication to highlighting the potential of lesser-known vineyard sites.
Tamra's winemaking emphasises sustainability, minimal intervention, and the authentic expression of vineyard sites. She sources fruit from various regions - Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, and Central Otago, carefully crafting wines that are balanced, textured, and elegant.

Wines of Provenance

Kelly Washington Wines sources its grapes from various regions but predominantly two of New Zealand’s most iconic wine regions – Marlborough and Central Otago. These two regions share characteristics of cool climate wine regions, but they also have many differences.

Marlborough is known for its gravelly soils and sunny maritime climate and cool nights, and its diverse sub-regions, such as the Wairau and Awatere Valleys, create important diversity of terroir, as well as ideal conditions for aromatic Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Whereas Central Otago famously has a cool, continental climate with dramatic diurnal temperature shifts which contribute to richly concentrated Pinot Noir. Schist-based soils enhance minerality and complexity.

The winery’s focus on small-batch, single-vineyard wines reflects the diverse geography and terroir of these locations, making wines of true provenance.