Forrest is a Marlborough estate founded by Dr John Forrest, long associated with diversifying the region beyond Sauvignon Blanc. Its Arneis - the Piedmontese white nicknamed il birichino, 'the little rascal', for its low yields and fussy temperament - is grown on the free-draining gravel and silt terraces of Gibson's Creek in the Wairau Valley. Long summer daylight hours and cool nights allow slow, complete ripening while retaining acidity. Farming targets full phenolic maturity for this thin-skinned variety. The 2024 fruit was harvested at full ripeness, yielding a dry white of roughly 12% alcohol with modest residual sugar and firm total acidity, shaped as much by Marlborough intent as by Piedmont tradition.

The 2024 Arneis was machine-harvested at full phenolic maturity, then cold-settled to clarify the juice before a cool fermentation in stainless steel to protect the variety's delicate pear-skin, chamomile and lemon-balm aromatics. The wine was aged briefly on lees to add mid-palate texture and roundness while keeping the palate taut and precise, then finished dry - reported at around 4.6 g/L residual sugar against 6.4 g/L total acidity - giving a saline, mineral line with white orchard fruit and a delicate almond bitterness on the close. No malolactic or oak influence intrudes, preserving freshness and drive.