From a career in investment banking to making seriously small-batch natural wines, Yoshiaki Sato has laid down roots in Central Otago and embarked on the ultimate tree-change. Honing his craft over vintages in France, he joined the team at Felton Road, where Mike Weersing was a great inspiration and mentor in Yoshiaki’s vision to make natural wines from organically farmed vineyards in Mount Pisa. Yoshi splits his time between his role as winemaker at Mount Edward and his Sato label which he launched in 2009. His Sato Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have made significant waves and are hard to source, with production currently at a mere 3000 bottles each year.
