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Just one year after selling their successful
Auckland software business, Steve and Bev Nathan have bought a vineyard,
created a new wine brand and become a medal winning success.
Salvare Estate’s latest accomplishment has
been at New Zealand’s oldest and most revered wine competition in the Royal
Easter Show where they have picked up a silver award for their Syrah and a
bronze for their Merlot Rose and Unoaked Chardonnay. ”While we knew we had a good product, achieving a 100% success
with three medals from three wines entered was an outstanding result,” says
Steve.
They also recently won a bronze award for
their Syrah at the Air New Zealand awards in November 2007, a thrilling win considering
their first vintage was only released in September 2007
Steve and Bev Nathan created the new Salvare brand
with zero experience in the industry. But after 16 years creating and managing
software business Comacc and then selling the business to MYOB, the Nathans
were ready for a change.
Salvare is the Latin word from which we
derive the word salvation. The Nathan’s found their ‘salvation’ in sunny Hawkes
Bay. Despite their inexperience, and major lifestyle change the Nathan family
have embraced the industry and are enjoying their new start.
With a determination to be creative and
successful, the Nathan’s vision is to be a quality boutique winery. They have
already established a brand that is stylish and their wine has received a warm
response from the public during trial tasting sessions. Their “creative”
approach has even extended to the design
of their labels, using original artworks from Greytown artist Lisa Matthys’s
bottle and glass - “Wine” series.”We didn’t want a label which looked like it
was created on a computer” says Bev.
Steve describes their brand as “casual, not
pretentious and down to earth” and puts their brand success down to quality
fruit grown in a renowned location and the skill and attention of respected
winemaker Elise Montgomery. “We have positioned our wine as being elegant, but
also ideal for consuming on casual occasions with family and friends” he says.
Steve says he now appreciates the time and
effort that goes into wine production. “Some people may think a bottle of wine can
be expensive, but when you see what goes in to producing it you realise why,”
says Steve. Being exposed to the elements of the weather is one external
business influence he has quickly had to become accustomed too, particularly
the harsh reality of frost.
Salvare Estate is a 15 acre Chardonnay
vineyard located on Ngatarawa Road in Hawkes Bay. To broaden their range they
also source quality fruit from other Hawkes Bay growing areas such as Gimblett
Road, “This way we get the best of both worlds” says Steve
Salvare Estate also produces two olive oils,
a Picual and a Barnea grown locally in the Puketapu valley. The Picual recently
won a silver medal at the Hawkes Bay Olive Oil awards.
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