The Hermit Ram
North Canterbury, New Zealand
New Zealand wine became internationally famous through Sauvignon Blanc. Theo Coles looked at that situation and decided to wander off in a completely different direction.
The Hermit Ram has become one of the country's most respected low-intervention wine projects, working primarily from North Canterbury while sourcing fruit from carefully selected vineyard sites around New Zealand. Natural fermentations, minimal additions and patient winemaking sit at the centre of the approach.
The wines often move well beyond the usual New Zealand categories. Skin-contact whites, field blends, amphora-aged wines and thoughtful expressions of Pinot Noir all appear throughout the range. Despite the experimental reputation, the wines rarely feel chaotic. There is usually a strong thread of balance and drinkability running underneath everything.
What makes The Hermit Ram particularly interesting is that the wines still feel unmistakably New Zealand. Bright acidity, purity of fruit and freshness remain present even when the techniques lean towards the more adventurous end of natural wine.
These are bottles for people who enjoy a little curiosity in their glass without needing a lecture attached to it.