It has been said many times that a great wine is made in the vineyard. Coldstream Hills certainly believes this to be so. Yields on the steeply sloping vineyards are not excessive, but if it proves necessary to take steps to control vigour (and yield) to maximize quality, this will be done without hesitation. Special attention is paid to trellising and canopy management, with the newest techniques being employed.

The three key varieties (chardonnay, pinot noir and the cabernet family) are each vinified using radically different techniques. What is more, within each variety a number of techniques are usually employed, all with the intention of adding complexity to the finished wine. Thus chardonnay may not always be crushed but pressed as whole bunches; skin contact is used in moderation; the grapes are chilled before being crushed; most of the fermentations are conducted in barrel; lees contact is extensively practised, while malolactic fermentation is used only to a limited degree.