Grapes: Pinot Noir + Riesling + Merlot
Region: Nelson, New Zealand
Vintage: 2023
Viticulture: Organic
Soils: Alluvial + Clay + Gravel
Vinification: Predominantly fully destemmed, all small batch ferments with 5-10 days maceration. Approximately 10% whole bunches and 10% carbonic.
Aging: 6 months
Fining or Filtering: None
Sulfur: None added
Notes from the Importer: Kindeli wines, which is run by Alex Craighhead, is found in the Upper Moutere of Nelson. Here he works works organically to raise varieties such as Pinot Gris, Riesling, Syrah and Pinot amongst others. His vines are a healthy ecosystem. Sheep are encouraged to walk the vineyards to chew away any unwanted weeds and also helps thin out the leaves. This helps increase the soil health (think about it) and also reduce yields Around and between the vines he works with cover crops of clover and local trees. This further helps the soil health and biodiversity of insects and birds for his site. With such a keen eye on their own fruit they also buy in some organic grapes from local growers with similar thinking for viticulture. In the winery he only uses natural ferment and often begins his ferments with a creating a small ‘starter’ ferment to the side to kick off. With a historic preference for 'wild' wines, this has been backed off in recent years to pursue more transparency & purity in the wines.
