Born and raised in New Zealand’s acclaimed Central Otago wine region, Steffi Yayoi Snook discovered her love for winemaking during a school trip to a local vineyard. After moving to Melbourne at 19, she immersed herself in the city’s dynamic hospitality scene, working at renowned restaurants like Rockpool, Vue De Monde, and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. These experiences exposed her to some of the world’s greatest wines and deepened her passion for the craft.

Her winemaking journey began on the coast of Victoria, where she worked her first vintage at Bannockburn Vineyard in Geelong. She later pursued formal training with a Diploma in Wine Technology and found mentorship at Lethbridge Wines, where Ray Nadeson and Maree Collis encouraged her to create her own wines. Steffi’s dream is to one day establish her own vineyard dedicated to Chenin Blanc in Victoria, and honestly that sounds like our kind of dream too!

Yayoi Wines is Steffi Snook's passion project, launched in 2021 as an exploration of alternative white varietals, particularly Chenin Blanc. Inspired by the textural and aromatic old-world wines she encountered on her travels through France, Steffi’s approach to winemaking is both adventurous and deeply personal. Based in Victoria, she sources fruit from carefully selected vineyards, crafting expressive wines that balance purity, texture, and a sense of place. The name "Yayoi" comes from Steffi’s Japanese given name, meaning "new life" - a philosophy reflected in her wines, which are crafted to evoke memories, moments, and a fresh perspective on tradition.