# Airlie Bank Gris on Skins (2023)

- **Producer:** Punt Road Wines
- **Colour:** orange
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Gris
- **Region:** Victoria, Australia
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 8–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** grapefruit, peach, orange, apricot, pear, pastry, biscuit

## About this wine

The Airlie Bank Gris on Skins 2023 from Punt Road Wines is a Pinot Gris from the Yarra Valley, Australia, made with significant skin contact to create an orange wine. The wine is produced by Punt Road Wines, a family-owned estate managed by the third and fourth generations of the Napoleone family, with winemaking guidance from Tim Shand. The Yarra Valley's cool climate contributes to the wine's complexity and elegance. The 2023 vintage was a cooler year, resulting in wines with fine tannins and natural acidity.

## Interesting facts

- This wine is an orange wine, meaning the grape skins were involved in fermentation.
- Punt Road Wines is a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
- Winemaker Tim Shand has prior winemaking experience in Burgundy, France.
- The wine offers a 'little funk' alongside its fruit-forward notes.

## Food pairing

The wine's savory grippiness and medium body complement richer dishes, while its crisp acidity cuts through fat and balances spice. The subtle fruit notes can bridge with a variety of ingredients, making it versatile for complex flavors.

## Wine making process

The Airlie Bank Gris on Skins 2023 is produced using a combination of winemaking techniques. Approximately 65% of the grapes undergo 100% whole-bunch fermentation, while 30% are fermented on skins in a fermenter with twice-daily pump-overs. A further 5% is pressed after 24 hours and then undergoes wild barrel fermentation in old puncheons. This approach emphasizes extended skin contact, a key element in creating the wine's distinctive character. The vintage conditions of 2023, a cooler year with gradual maturation, contributed to the wine's elegance and acidity.