Alpha Zeta S" Soave"

Alpha Zeta was started in 1999 when Liberty Wines set out to produce a range of modern, fruit-driven wines from the hills outside Verona. Working with leading New Zealand winemaker, Matt Thomson, 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.

Garganega,

The vineyards are located at 100-300 meters above sea level in the hills of the Alpone valley, in the commune of Monteforte d'Alpone in eastern Soave. The fruit for this wine is grown in selected old vineyards with excellent south-east exposure, where growers have reduced their yields quite considerably to produce excellent quality fruit. The soil is made of marl and limestone so the vines are put under stress and produce superior quality fruit. The vines are 20-30 years old on average and are trained using both the traditional Pergola Veronese and Guyot systems.

The grapes were hand harvested, destemmed, crushed and chilled without the addition of sulphur, before being gently whole bunch pressed in a pneumatic press. The juice was naturally settled and, after racking, cultured yeasts were added to start fermentation which took place at 12 to 16°C in 1200-hectolitre stainless steel tanks. Ageing took place in the same tanks, where the wine remained until it was fined, filtered and bottled.

This is a pale lemon coloured wine, with clean, bright aromas of almond blossom. With fresh acidity, the palate is ripe and concentrated, full of apple and pear flavours. The finish is lively and crisp.