From the sunlit slopes of Hawke’s Bay, beneath the shadow of Te Mata Peak, Bilancia has quietly established itself as one of New Zealand’s most revered artisan wineries. The name, Italian for “balance,” reflects not only the astrological sign shared by the founders — winemakers Warren Gibson and Lorraine Leheny — but also the ethos that defines every bottle: harmony between fruit, site, and intent.

Bilancia’s home is the lauded La Collina vineyard, a steep, north-facing slope in the Gimblett Gravels subregion — where dense river stones, poor soils, and long, dry summers provide ideal conditions for Syrah of uncommon depth and energy. The vineyard is farmed with meticulous care, and yields are kept low to ensure intensity and precision.

At the heart of Bilancia’s work is Syrah — not in mimicry of the Rhône, but in dialogue with it. La Collina Syrah is their flagship: co-fermented with a touch of Viognier, aged in French oak, and released only when ready. It offers a remarkable interplay of perfume, texture, and structure — violets, black pepper, graphite, and fine tannins etched with stony clarity. It is not loud, but it is deeply resonant — a Syrah of subtle command.

Bilancia also produces Chardonnay and Pinot Gris from select Hawke’s Bay parcels, each vinified with a similarly attentive hand. The Chardonnays are taut and mineral-driven, favoring linearity over richness, while the Pinot Gris leans into spice and orchard fruit with a dry, quietly expressive style. Across the range, oak is a framing element — never dominant — and wild fermentations lend complexity without obscuring place.

In a landscape that increasingly prizes scale and polish, Bilancia remains deeply personal. With limited production and a philosophy rooted in observation, patience, and restraint, it is a winery that allows terroir to unfold rather than be shaped. Each vintage is a considered gesture, not a formula.

Bilancia is Hawke’s Bay in slow motion — elemental, expressive, and balanced by design.