Bilancia
BILANCIA - Hawkes' Bay New Zealand
It is preposterous that New Zealand's finest red may not be a pinot; inconceivable that it could eclipse every Euro, Aussie and everywhere-else red so far this year. Such are the contradictions of La Collina. Hawke's Bay syrah with pepper, graphite, coal, flint, iron filings and the textural structure of dreams. TYSON STELZER, 2011
If there's one syrah every fan needs to try it is this from the maestro of Hawkes Bay, Warren Gibson. BEN EDWARDS WRITING ABOUT LA COLLINA
I did have some truly exceptional Syrah while I was there, most notably the La Collina bottling by Bilancia, JANCIS ROBINSON MW
Bilancia, established 1997 when Lorraine Leheny and Warren Gibson, returned to New Zealand from winemaking overseas is a small Hawkes' Bay producer making exceptional Pinot Gris, Viognier, Chardonnay and, in particular, Syrah. The first wines were released in mid 1998.
Warren and Lorraine both studied winemaking at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia and before settling in Hawkes Bay in 1997 and starting a family made wine in Australia, Hungary, Italy, California and France (Warren) and Australia, Portugal and California (Lorraine). Warren's day job is as the executive winemaker at Trinity Hill in Hawkes Bay where he also manages Trinity Hill's viticultural team and vineyards.
The viticultural central point for Bilancia is the 6 hectares (15 acres) of land covering the front and back of Roys Hill (west of Hastings on State Highway 50) where, planted only on the North - Northwest facing slope is the vineyard known as la collina (col-ee-na), which is Italian for "the hill". The upper most slopes and terraces are planted to Syrah whilst the lower gently rising land and gravels flat is planted to Viognier (and a small amount of Gewurztraminer). Some of the Viognier was top grafted to Chardonnay in 2007.
Since 2004 all fruit has been sourced from Hawke's Bay vineyards: Syrah and Viognier are from la collina and Syrah from Mere Road (Gravels). Pinot Gris is from Black Bridge Estate at Haumoana. It's been a while since these superb wines have been available in Australia and we are delighted to be able to offer them to you, including two vintages of the flagship La Collina Syrah!
Cheers
The team at Prince Wine Store
It is preposterous that New Zealand's finest red may not be a pinot; inconceivable that it could eclipse every Euro, Aussie and everywhere-else red so far this year. Such are the contradictions of La Collina. Hawke's Bay syrah with pepper, graphite, coal, flint, iron filings and the textural structure of dreams. TYSON STELZER, 2011
If there's one syrah every fan needs to try it is this from the maestro of Hawkes Bay, Warren Gibson. BEN EDWARDS WRITING ABOUT LA COLLINA
I did have some truly exceptional Syrah while I was there, most notably the La Collina bottling by Bilancia, JANCIS ROBINSON MW
Bilancia, established 1997 when Lorraine Leheny and Warren Gibson, returned to New Zealand from winemaking overseas is a small Hawkes' Bay producer making exceptional Pinot Gris, Viognier, Chardonnay and, in particular, Syrah. The first wines were released in mid 1998.
Warren and Lorraine both studied winemaking at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia and before settling in Hawkes Bay in 1997 and starting a family made wine in Australia, Hungary, Italy, California and France (Warren) and Australia, Portugal and California (Lorraine). Warren's day job is as the executive winemaker at Trinity Hill in Hawkes Bay where he also manages Trinity Hill's viticultural team and vineyards.
The viticultural central point for Bilancia is the 6 hectares (15 acres) of land covering the front and back of Roys Hill (west of Hastings on State Highway 50) where, planted only on the North - Northwest facing slope is the vineyard known as la collina (col-ee-na), which is Italian for "the hill". The upper most slopes and terraces are planted to Syrah whilst the lower gently rising land and gravels flat is planted to Viognier (and a small amount of Gewurztraminer). Some of the Viognier was top grafted to Chardonnay in 2007. Since 2004 all fruit has been sourced from Hawke's Bay vineyards: Syrah and Viognier are from la collina and Syrah from Mere Road (Gravels). Pinot Gris is from Black Bridge Estate at Haumoana. It's been a while since these superb wines have been available in Australia and we are delighted to be able to offer them to you, including two vintages of the flagship La Collina Syrah!
Cheers
The team at Prince Wine Store
