Alpha Zeta was started in 1999 when leading New Zealand winemaker Matt Thomson, set out to produce a range of modern, fruit driven wines from the hills outside Verona. Our aim was to work with growers (rather than buy bulk wine, which is standard among most wines from Verona at this price) to obtain ripe grapes (by reducing yields and picking later) and then, using Matt's expertise, preserve these flavours in the finished wines. The result is a realisation of the potential inherent in Veronese viniculture.
The grapes were hand harvested, de-stemmed and crushed and pumped to the press with no sulphur addition. The juice was chilled immediately and naturally settled. Cultured yeasts were added to initiate fermentation, which took place at 12-14 degrees celsius in order to retain fruit flavours.
This wine has a purity of fruit rare in a Pinot Grigio from the Veneto. It has a scented, spicy character on the nose, good weight and breadth on the palate and good acid on the finish, which is surprisingly long.