BILANCIA

Bilancia Italian (be-larn-cha) balance, harmony and equilibrium; the scales of the zodiac. Bilancia is a small Hawkes Bay producer of exceptional Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Pinot Noir and Syrah.

Bilancia was established in 1997 when Warren Gibson and his Partner Lorraine Leheny returned to New Zealand after some time spent making wine overseas. Warren Gibson, with Lorraine Leheny, own and make the wines.

They had returned to New Zealand with a view to establishing themselves in Hawkes Bay as this was the only area in New Zealand that they felt would satisfy all the requirements they had for making wine for themselves. Late in 1997, they purchased 6 hectares of land covering the front and back of Roys Hill, west of Hastings on State Highway 50.

In September 1998, the first Syrah vines went in on the uppermost slope of the north facing back of the hill and a gradual progression of terracing and planting continued down the hill until 2002 when the only flat part of the vineyard was planted to Viognier. This vineyard has been named La Collina (col-ee-na), which is Italian for "The Hill".

Lorraine Leheny & Warren Gibson

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. The first wines were released in mid 1998.

Warren and Lorraine both studied winemaking at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia and the subsequent years, before settling in Hawkes Bay in 1997, saw them make wine in Australia, Hungary, Italy, California and France (Warren) and Australia, Portugal and California (Lorraine).