Bright straw yellow in the glass, this wine is aromatic and concentrated with a thread of minerality. The palate is clean, fresh and fruit driven, with a medium-bodied mouthfeel and long finish.

Alpha Zeta was started in 1999 when Liberty Wines, working with 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 vineyards are situated in the hills outside Verona in the Valpantena Valley. Cool breezes blow down the valley from the foothills of the Dolomites, which moderates the climate, enabling the grapes to ripen slowly. This helps the grapes to retain their aromatic compounds and acidity. The soil is poor and chalky so the vines are put under stress, which helps to produce superior quality fruit.

Bud burst was delayed by 10-12 days compared to 2018, but rainfall and high temperatures in the following weeks brought forward flowering. On the whole, the grapes developed normally and in perfect condition. Yields were slightly down on the previous vintage.

The grapes were hand harvested, destemmed, crushed and chilled on the way to the press with no addition of sulphur. The juice was naturally settled. After racking, cultured yeasts were added to start fermentation which took place at 12-14°C. The wine was matured in stainless-steel tanks.