Pyramid Valley Chardonnay North Canterbury 2021

The wines of Pyramid Valley are born in the dramatic soils and slopes of the Waikari Estate in North Canterbury and the Pyramid Valley Mānatu Estate in Central Otago. Established in 2000, by Mike and Claudia Elze Weersing, the estate created remarkable wines, recognised the world over, for close to 20 years.

In 2017 Steve Smith MW (perhaps best known for establishing Craggy Range) and his business partner and wildlife conservationist Brian Sheth took over the estate, and are building on the work done by the Weersings to fulfil the full potential of the site. In 2018 they purchased a second vineyard in Lowburn, Central Otago called Manata Estate, an established vineyard that has produced exceptional Pinot Noir since 2002.

Staying true to the estate’s founding principles, both sites are managed following the principals of biodynamic viticulture and the winemaking follows natural principles.

Grapes were from old vine Mendoza vines in Waipara Springs on Omihi clay soils, planted around 40 years ago, and clone 5 and Mendoza sourced from the Three Sisters Vineyard Waipara planted between 2001-2002 on Rangitata gravels. The fruit was hand-picked between 12th and 23rd March 2021, and fermented with natural vineyard yeasts and aged in 20% new French oak barrels for 12 months before settling in stainless steel on light lees for a further 4 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.