Sileni Estates was born from a long standing interest in wine by Graeme Avery. In late 1997, along with financial director Chris Cowper and winemaker Grant Edmonds, he established Sileni as an export oriented producer, committed to crafting world-class fine wines. The winery is named after the Sileni who featured in Roman mythology alongside Bacchus, the God of Wine. They celebrated good wine, good food and good company. The vineyards and winery are based near Hastings, Hawke's Bay - the oldest wine region in New Zealand - on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It has a southern latitude of 39° and a climate similar to that of some of the great wine regions of the world. Sileni Estates also source grapes from the well known wine producing area of Marlborough, including Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Regional Vineyard Manager Ritchie Garnham oversees the management of 106 hectares of Estate vineyards, as well as 50ha of managed fruit supply. He leads a small crack team of five to ensure vineyard operations are done in an efficient and timely manner. Their understanding of grape growing and commitment to providing the best fruit forms the basis of the Sileni wine quality. They are all passionate about the ability of Hawke's Bay to produce world-class wines.

Sileni has a state-of-the-art winery in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. It is designed to crush over 1500 tonnes of fruit using both high-tech and traditional methods. Gentle air-bag presses and temperature-controlled tanks give precise control of grape juice quality, while open top red wine fermenters and cool barrel cellars provide for more time-honoured techniques. Chief Winemaker Grant Edmonds leads a team of winemakers, including Rachel Garnham, with combined vintage experience spanning Bordeaux, Burgundy, Oregon, California and Australia.

Try with a goat's cheese and sunblush tomato tart!