Huia Blanc de Blancs 2017

Huia Vineyards was established in 1996 by winemakers Mike and Claire Allan. The estate is dedicated to producing certified organic, minimal intervention wines.

Situated in the Wairau Valley, their vineyards feature well-draining alluvial soils composed of sandy silts and river stones, contributing to the vibrant tropical flavours in their wines.

Huia's portfolio includes varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Grüner Veltliner, all crafted with a focus on sustainability and expressing the character of their vineyards.

The name is derived its name from the ‘huia’, an extinct bird native to New Zealand, and significant cultural importance to the Māori people, who regarded it as ‘tapu’ (sacred). By adopting this name, Huia Vineyards honours New Zealand's natural heritage and reflects a commitment to being guardians of the land and environment.

The sparkling wine was made in the traditional method. Organic Chardonnay grapes were hand-picked and whole bunch pressed. Then the juice was racked off to barrels for fermentation. A warm, fast ferment was encouraged. Base wines underwent full malolactic fermentation and were aged on gross lees in old French oak. Secondary yeast fermentation was conducted in the bottle and was aged on the yeast lees for 32 months. The bottles were hand-riddled over 5 weeks, and then disgorged 1st October 2020.