I notice people give me a strange look when I tell them I have a favourite word. It seems perfectly normal to have a favourite number, colour, song, or wine - no weird looks given. So why not a favourite word? Mine is "peninsula." Not exactly something you'd drop into everyday conversation, but stay with me. It's the perfect word - poetic, evocative, and etymologically delicious. From the Latin 'paenae insula' - "almost an island" - it captures the idea of a landform that flirts with isolation but doesn't quite commit. A word with both roots and wings. And while we're on favourites, my favourite wine is easy: Chardonnay.
Why share this odd affection? Because words, like wine, are steeped in stories. They take us on journeys, reveal connections, and sometimes, they just taste good. Another favourite of mine is the dandelion. A humble plant with etymology fit for royalty. From the French 'dente de lion' - "lion's tooth" - it owes its name to the jagged edges of its leaves.
Dandelions, like their name, are fascinatingly layered. Every part of the plant is edible, with a wide range of applications in traditional herbal medicine. Their seeds can travel up to eight kilometres on a stiff breeze. To me, these cheerful bursts of yellow are so much more than weeds. They're resilient, adaptable, and perhaps a little misunderstood - qualities that resonate when I think about our Pyramid Valley Lion's Tooth Chardonnay.
This wine, a single-block Chardonnay, has its own story tied to the land. The block, named "Lion's Tooth," honours the dandelions that grew prolifically when it was planted. As part of our Botanicals Collection - a suite of wines that celebrate the uniqueness of their origins - it sits alongside Field of Fire Chardonnay, Earth Smoke Pinot Noir, and Angel Flower Pinot Noir from our Waikari vineyard in North Canterbury, and Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir from our Low Burn vineyard in Central Otago.
Crafting these wines is a deliberate, thoughtful process. It begins with organic viticulture and a regenerative mindset, where we work in harmony with nature, hand-tending every vine and following the rhythms of season and land. The result is a wine that captures not only the characteristics of the block but the spirit of the people and philosophy behind its creation. Lion’s Tooth Chardonnay, with its golden hues and vibrant complexity, is a tribute to resilience and beauty, much like the dandelion itself.
There’s a beautiful parallel between the layers of language and the layers of wine. Just as a word carries hidden meanings and history, every glass of Lion's Tooth Chardonnay holds the story of the soil, the season, and the people involved. Stories of place, patience, and passion. The world is full of simple pleasures hiding complex stories, whether it’s a “weed” that has been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries or a wine that balances art and nature in a single glass. It’s about seeing what’s beneath the surface - or, in the case of words, the roots.
So when you’re pouring yourself a glass of our just-released 2023 Lion’s Tooth Chardonnay, think about the plucky dandelion, the peninsula, or the stories behind the wine in your glass. If nothing else, you’ll be drinking to the idea that there’s beauty in the everyday and depth in the seemingly simple.
MJ Loza
CEO
Pyramid Valley, Smith & Sheth, Lowburn Ferry
Aotearoa New Zealand Fine Wine Estates
October 2025 marks the release of the 2023 Botanicals Collection wines – the Field of Fire Chardonnay, Lion’s Tooth Chardonnay, Angel Flower Pinot Noir and Earth Smoke Pinot Noir from our Waikari Estate and the Snake’s Tongue Pinot Noir from our Low Burn Estate in Central Otago. To view the release e-book with more information on the season, vineyards and wines, click here. For current availability, click here.