Tamra Kelly-Washington grew up in Marlborough during the region’s viticulture explosion. Spending school holidays working in vineyards and winery restaurants sparked an early fascination with wine and its creation.
With a degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Lincoln University, her first position was in the laboratory at Seresin Estate. She then headed to California to join Francisan Estate in the Napa Valley. This was followed by stints in Australia’s Hunter Valley and Margaret River. Next came an offer to take the role of Head Winemaker for the Calatrasi Group, overseeing wineries in Sicily, Puglia and Tunisia. After a period as a flying winemaker in the Veneto and Abruzzo regions in Italy, Tamra worked for nearly 10 years as Chief Winemaker for Yealands Estate in the Awatere Valley of Marlborough.
We welcome Tamra back to Seresin Estate, where her wine journey commenced!