Bilancia is a small Hawkes' Bay producer of exceptional Pinot Gris, Viognier and Syrah. It is the label of winemakers Lorraine Leheny and Warren Gibson and was established in 1997 when Lorraine and Warren returned to New Zealand from winemaking overseas.

When planting these vines, old, spent bullets were found in almost every hole dug on the slope of La Collina; we imagine this area was used for many years as a firing range for target practice. Single vineyard Chardonnay from vines originally planted in 2001 on the lower slopes, terraces and flat, old riverbed of La Collina vineyard. The site is planted to a number of different clones of Chardonnay, predominantly B95 and UCD15 with a smaller contribution from 548, 809 and Mendoza. These clones and the rows are represented by the stylised artwork of the label.
The fruit is 100% hand-picked, whole bunch pressed to French oak puncheons and barriques for fermentation. Indigenous yeast carried the ferment to dryness. The wine spent 11 months in oak prior to bottling; there was no fining or cold stabilisation. 

It has a complex nose with flinty / smokey hints overlaying regional stonefruits. On the palate this is a elegant, refined chardonnay with exceptional drive. There is plenty of soft acidity, some flinty notes and a subtle creaminess. The finish is impeccable; fresh and zingy and seemingly endless.

There were no additives other than sulphur. It has always been our plan to produce a flagship Chardonnay from the La Collina vineyard, reflecting the variety and the vineyard.