History of Bilancia
Bilancia was founded in the late 1990s by winemakers Warren Gibson and Lorraine Leheny, both of whom have extensive experience in the wine industry. Warren has worked across New Zealand and internationally, including prestigious roles in France and Australia, while Lorraine brings her expertise from her background in Australian winemaking. Together, they envisioned creating a winery that focused on balance in all aspects of winemaking, from vineyard to bottle.
The name Bilancia, meaning balance in Italian, reflects the winery’s philosophy of harmonizing fruit, acidity, tannin, and oak to create wines of depth and finesse. This idea of balance also refers to the Libra sign, emphasizing the precision and care taken in every decision, from vineyard management to harvest. Since its founding, Bilancia has become one of the most respected boutique wineries in New Zealand, known for its terroir-driven wines, particularly from the la collina vineyard.
Region and Vineyards
Bilancia is based in the Hawke’s Bay region, one of the most diverse and important wine-producing areas in New Zealand. Hawke’s Bay benefits from a warm maritime climate, long sunshine hours, and cooling sea breezes, creating an ideal environment for Chardonnay, Syrah, and other varieties. The region’s diverse soils, including limestone, sandstone, and alluvial gravels, contribute to the complexity and variety of the wines produced here.
The winery’s flagship vineyard, la collina, is located on the steep slopes of Roys Hill, a site with limestone-rich soils that are perfect for producing wines with structure and minerality. The vineyard's location, with its well-draining slopes and optimal sun exposure, allows for low yields of intensely flavored fruit. The Syrah grown on this vineyard is particularly renowned for its balance of floral aromatics, dark fruit, and spicy undertones, while the Chardonnay reflects the site’s minerality and precision.
Additionally, Trelinnoe Vineyard on Roys Hill contributes to Bilancia’s Chardonnay portfolio. The vineyard’s sandstone over limestone soils impart a crisp acidity and a mineral-driven profile, while the careful selection of clones like UCD15 ensures a complex and age-worthy wine. These sites are managed with an eye toward sustainability, ensuring the long-term health of the vines and the land.
Wine Range
Bilancia is particularly known for its Chardonnay and Syrah, with a strong focus on expressing the individual characteristics of each vineyard.
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La Collina Syrah is the flagship red, known for its intensity, balance, and complex flavors of dark fruit, spice, and floral notes. This wine is crafted from the steep hillside vineyard, benefiting from careful vineyard management and minimal intervention in the winery.
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Tiratore Chardonnay is another standout, offering a refined, mineral-driven expression of Chardonnay from the la collina vineyard, with bright acidity and subtle oak integration.
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Uvaggio Field Blend is a unique white blend of Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne, showcasing the winery’s Rhône varietals with a focus on texture, freshness, and aromatic complexity.
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Trelinnoe Vineyard Chardonnay is a small-production, single-vineyard wine that highlights the sandstone and limestone soils of Roys Hill, offering crisp acidity, stone fruit flavors, and a mineral backbone.
Did You Know?
The name Bilancia reflects the winery’s focus on balance and harmony, not only in the wine itself but also in the vineyard and winemaking process. The la collina vineyard was once used as a firing range, and old bullets were found during the vineyard’s establishment, inspiring the name of their Tiratore Chardonnay, which means "marksman" in Italian.
