Highfield Media Releases

A welcoming smile and some good conversation about wine are guaranteed if you walk into Highfield Estate and meet Claudia Yanez. The Chilean winemaker runs the cellar door at the winery and is particularly passionate about wine and meeting new people. A natural charmer she says it always makes her day when she can make someone smile or teach them something they didn’t already know.

Claudia grew up in Santiago, Chile, and went to university there. She studied agricultural engineering then started work in the university research centre. Her boss suggested she complete a course in viticulture and oenology while still working part-time for him. ”It was a two-year course and I went to the first class and I just loved it.”

After finishing she took off to vintage hop around the world, including a vintage in Australia where she met her husband, Michael Mullany, who now works as assistant winemaker for Highfield. In 2004 a pregnant Claudia and Michael moved to Blenheim (his home town) with their first daughter. When her youngest daughter turned two years old she started looking for work and the position at Highfield became available. She says the cellar door lifestyle suits her as she works only a few hours during the day; and maybe one day she will move back into winemaking. But right now she is very happy in her chosen job.

“I love to talk about wine as it’s my passion. I love to teach people and lots of people come to the cellar door knowing lots or nothing so I can always talk at someone’s level.” She says people come to the winery to have a whole experience of wine, food and beautiful views so she always tries to go the extra mile for customers. For example, one time when it was raining she offered some towels to people, and she often makes bookings for people. It is her ability to go that extra mile that helped earn Highfield cellar door of the year last year.