New Zealand has so much going for it — pristine and eye watering natural vistas, pure tranquility and an abundance of sumptuous produce. None better than its exciting trove of wines though. The tiny most southerly of winemaking countries began its vinous journey with initial modesty only to vault up ahead of its peers and lead a revolution of wine making that didn’t just refine the craft, it shaped new world wine styles.
New Zealand’s fruit forward, grassy and wholesome vintages of Sauvignon Blanc is perhaps the most significant chapter in modern wine history. The island nation can also lay claim to making one of the world’s finest Pinot Noir and that is no mean feat. New Zealand is the world’s southernmost country to plant vineyards is home to ten regions dotting its South and North Islands.
Marlborough on South Island can take the credit for revolutionizing Sauvignon Blanc and making impressive barrel aged Chardonnay in the North Island while Martinborough boasts New Zealand’s finest Pinots and Central Otago too makes an interestingly bold Pinot Noir expression. Most of New Zealand’s vineyards are planted on volcanic soils that play a significant role shaping the New Zealand wine style.
key regions
key regions
Marlborough – Marlborough is the region credited with transforming Sauvignon Blanc and the palate for it. This sunlit region is situated at the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island and makes more than 75 per cent of all its wine. Its finest achievement is the exuberant new world style of Sauvignon Blanc
It is also an important producer of quality sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir using the Methode Traditionnelle process.
Hawkes Bay – Hawkes Bay is New Zealand’s second largest wine region with a history of many fine vintages dating back to 1851 when Marist missionaries came bearing vines and promptly planted them. This region nurtures and bottles exciting red wine expressions from French noble grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz which reward Hawkes Bay’s mild climate and perennial sunlight with their best versions.
Central Otago – Nestled at the near tip of civilization in the Southern Hemisphere, Central Otago is a cool climate region gifted with immense potential and crafty winemakers who make New World Pinot Npir almost as well as Burgundy. Vines carpet the mountains and their fruit ripens early but with enough hangtime to unlock the most delicate of flavours. Unsurprisingly, Pinot Noir rules Central Otago, accounting for three quarters of all vineyard and just keeps getting better.
key grapes
key grapesSauvignon Blanc is French by origin but is definitely a Kiwi for quality and fame. New Zealand stunned the world with a hallmark fragrant and fruity style that literally changed the expectation of what a white wine should be and Marlborough lies at the heart of New Zealand’s greatest wine achievement.
Pinot Noir is world’s hardest grape to grow but New Zealand’s winemakers in Central Otago didn’t just make a success out of this most finicky grape, they just made the New World’s best Pinot Noir, almost as good as Burgundy, but a bit more intense and generous on fruit flavour.
Chardonnay in New Zealand, like Pinot Noir, competes with Burgundy for sheer quality and freshness and benefits from more time under the sun, yielding wines abounding with citrus and apple notes and still ample acidity.
Syrah has flown under the radar compared to Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc but holds its own as an interesting cool climate expression which is rare to come by in the New World. Compared to Aussie Shiraz, NZ ‘Syrah’ is more subtle and spicy with hints of violet just like in the Northern Rhone but doesn’t hold back on a midpalate full of red fruit.
Our Handpicked Wineries
Our Handpicked Wineries
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