Once crushed to open-top fermenters the grapes were inoculated with several strains of yeast and fermented at 28-30 degrees C. Post fermentation the parcels were pressed to oak barriques, 15% new, for 15 months maturation. The wine was blended, egg white fined and filtered to bottle.

2022 presented a warm summer punctuated with frequent rainfall which kept the vines fresh and healthy. The warm summer meant good flavours developed in the fruit but heavy rain events close to harvest meant careful harvest decision making was required to ensure the fruit could be picked in good condition. The fruit from this wine comes from a range of Villa Maria Hawkes Bay vineyards located on the Gimblett Gravels, where free draining alluvial soils temper vine vigour, resulting in low yields of ripe and concentrated fruit.