With fruit from all three of our home estates safely tucked up in the cellar by Easter, May has brought with it some celebratory cool beers as well as cooler weather. 2025 follows the spectacular 2024 vintage for both Smith & Sheth and Pyramid Valley. It will be no less spectacular, especially in Hawke’s Bay. These two vintages will provide a true glimpse at the potential for fine wine in New Zealand, through our lens.
Following last month's release of our Smith & Sheth CRU Waitaki Chardonnay, we sat down for a chat with local legend and Valli Wine founder Grant Taylor who shared the triumphs and challenges of this under-the-radar winegrowing region, which bears some climatic and soil similarities to our own Waikari. Pyramid Valley winemaker Huw Kinch writes about how winery technology working hand-in-hand with nature and human instinct contributes to wine quality - the first in a series of articles that deep dive into some pretty cool technology we have at our fingertips. This is one for the tech geeks among us!
We also explore the ancient symbolism behind Pyramid Valley’s distinctive labels and the icons you may not have noticed hidden within the artwork, and share an update on a suite of incredible accolades we’ve received from the world's most influential critics.
Steve Smith MW Natalie Grace
Editor at Large Chief Editor
