This beer is a logical 'next-step' for Schiste. I can't remember exactly when I started thinking of doing something like this but I can say it has naturally been there for the taking for a good two years. I cant help but seek as much minerality as possible in the white wines that I drink, the texture and mouthfeel provided just cant be paralleled by any other tasting experience for me. It's no wonder, then, that our base Gold blend tends to carry skerricks of this from time to time... as it's something I am naturally drawn towards.

My desire for this beer was either Chardonnay or Chenin.. or if I could get it... Piquepoul. Unfortunately there is not much well-grown chenin in New South Wales, however the Orange wine region does produce some excellent Chardonnay on their volcanic soils. Those deep-cut Wildflower followers will recall a beer, 'Touched by the side of the Sun' from 2019 (still one of my favourite labels) which was made using Chardonnay grapes from Murray Smith's Canobolas-Smith winery, one of the original plantings in the area. Also, it was Murray's Chardonnay that we pressed and fermented out as dry wine and then allowed to oxidise under flor to make Jaune d'Or. While this fruit would have been my go-to for this beer, Murray has since sold that land and we are not (currently) in touch with the new owners... but if someone is heading out to Orange for a weekend away and decide to drop by theirs for a tasting, please put in a good word for me... [ok, edit, I just stopped writing this and dropped them an instagram message so fingers crossed we can work together in the future].

Anyway, without the option on Murray's fruit I was able to source 60kg from Tom Ward at Swinging Bridge Wines. This is the second time we have worked with Tom's fruit the first with St Florence 2019: Gamay (Swinging Bridge). That year was the first time we had been able to use Gamay fruit and we did an A/B test with Swinging Bridge and Ravensworth fruit... It's nice to look back and think on that and now be making St Walter: Gamay for the third year in a row, as I love the fruit.

Wow, massive tangent (thank you brain), ok, back to this beer... Tom was happy for us to take some fruit so Brayden set off up to Orange especially for this. On return we moved an aged barrel of Schiste over the fruit and waited for the refermentation. This beer is going to reward those with patience and I expect it to develop well for the next two years... At the same time, it's absolutely scintillating right now. One of my favourite artworks of this year as well. Sitting right above me at this very moment. Enjoy.

The label for Living in Discovery 2024 is an oyster-inspired oil painting by Bernadette.

750ml, ABV: 6.2%
Approximately 3.7 Standard Drinks
Bottled: May 2024
Best Before: May 2028

Please note, there is a typo on the label in the first line saying this beer is made with Riesling grapes instead of Chardonnay. The subsequent text clears this up.

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Each member will receive 1 x 750ml bottle of Living in Discovery 2024 as part of their membership.

We have an additional 117 x 750ml bottles available for Collective members to purchase on a first come basis from 12pm (AEDT) on Wednesday 16 October 2024. There is a 3 bottle limit per person.