Amoise Amphora Chenin Blanc 2025

This is an excellent example of Hawke's Bay Chenin Blanc, and it's good to see this relatively rare variety put to such good use. Tropical fruit sits alongside crisp Granny Smith apple acidity, giving the wine freshness and drive while retaining Chenin's wonderfully mouth-filling, textural character. A subtle saline edge carries through the finish, bringing a refreshing lift and keeping everything beautifully in check.

That texture is no accident. The fruit was foot crushed in picking bins and left to soak overnight, extracting complex phenolics before being whole bunch pressed into traditional Tinajas (amphorae) and neutral 500L puncheons. Fermentation was kicked off using a pied de cuve - a natural vineyard starter Amy made from Chenin grapes fermented beneath the vines, before the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The fruit comes from Ian and Linda Quinn's exceptional Two Terraces vineyard in Mangatahi, which is BioGro-certified organic, with Amy's allocated rows farmed biodynamically since 2020. Another exciting and harmonious release from talented winemaker, Amy Farnsworth.

This is a natural wine - don't be worried if there is a bit of sediment at the bottom or if it's bit cloudy, that's how it's supposed to be!