The Hermit Ram Salty White

The Hermit Ram Salty White is a distinctive natural wine from The Hermit Ram, a small artisanal producer in North Canterbury/Waipara, New Zealand founded by winemaker Theo Coles. The wine is a skin-contact white made predominantly from Sauvignon Blanc (often with small amounts of Pinot Blanc or Müller-Thurgau depending on vintage), organically grown and crafted with minimal intervention, unfined, unfiltered and fermented on whole bunches with wild yeasts.

Winemaking involves multiple fermentations and ageing vessels: part of the juice is whole-bunch fermented and aged in stainless steel, part is raised in Spanish amphora (tinaja) and part is placed in neutral barrels that are left untopped so a layer of flor-like yeast develops, contributing texture and complexity. These components are then blended before bottling.

On the nose and palate Salty White often shows saline, maritime character with hints of citrus, herbs and floral notes, alongside a gentle tang of seasoning-like minerality that reflects its “salty” inspiration, Theo describes it as an ode to the New Zealand coastline.