'Ancient Ways' is the evolution of Marlborough natural wine brand that was once called Native & Ancient. Now led by local winemaker (and artist) Tom Flaherty, here we have their newly released 2025 Marlborough Chardonnay.

Bright, concentrated and textural, this Chardonnay has great concentration and flavour while still balancing acidity and interest. Aged French oak has been used, giving the wine great texture and mouthfeel without any oak flavour influence, and the wine itself is in that beautiful lemons / limes / grapefruit spectrum of citrus flavour. A fine line of acidity. Minerality too.

Winemaking: 100% Chardonnay (Mendoza clone), BioGro-certified organic vineyard, the fruit was hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed, then settled into French oak barrels where it was wild fermented and later when through full natural malolactic fermentation. Gently settled in barrel through the passage of time, the clear wine was then bottled unfiltered, unfined and with minimal added sulphites.