UNKEL LIFE’S A BEACH ORANGE 2024

Unkel is a small organic vineyard & minimal intervention winery run by husband and wife duo Rob and Kate Burley, located in the picturesque growing region of Nelson/Tasman, New Zealand. Our wines are lovingly handcrafted in order to respect and portray a true sense of time & place.

“Unkel” (variation of the spelling of Uncle), is about working with Mother Nature in the Vineyard to produce the highest quality fruit that we can obtain from her. Once in the winery, rather than being that hands-on, overbearing parent or father figure, you can think of us more like that cruisy, fun, slightly wild Uncle in your life.

Winery notes (2024 Vintage)
“5-day skin-fermented Pinot Gris (48%), 5-day skin-fermented Sauvignon Blanc (42%) and 5-day skin-fermented Gewürztraminer (10%). Fermented separately and then aged in a mixture of old puncheons and stainless steel before being blended in Spring. A medium bodied orange wine. Gentle, mouthwatering phenolics wrapped around a hit of rockmelon, mandarin, rhubarb and rose water. A great introduction to Orange wine.”

5 Stars & 93/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, April 2026 (2024 Vintage)
“Complex and fragrant, the bouquet reveals aromas of Gala apple, orange peel, grapefruit, and warm spices. The palate displays excellent weight and a textured mouthfeel, splendidly supported by fine phenolics and crisp acidity, finishing long and pleasingly dry. At its best: now to 2029.”