New Zealand

<h4>Central Otago</h4><p>The inland mountainous location provides a semi-continental climate with very cold winters, hot summers, cool night time temperatures and very low rainfall. This unique climate combined with the mostly glacially derived soils, with rich deposits of mica and schist, is ideally suited to Pinot Noir (80% of the plantings), producing expressive and elegant wines. The region also successfully produces a variety of white wines including Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. The wines of Central Otago have a purity, intensity and vibrancy reflective of the region’s terroir and pure mountain air.</p><p>*photo credit Misha’s Vineyard</p>

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<h4>Gisborne</h4><p>This relatively remote area rewards those who take a trip east with a diverse range of wines, from full flavoured and fruit driven, to critically acclaimed biodynamic classics. Gisborne is home to a mix of large producers, boutique wineries, and entrepreneurial growers, who are continuously exploring new varieties and vineyard sites.</p><p>Chardonnay is the dominant variety and enjoys great success.</p><p>Delightfully bright Pinot Gris is the region's second largest wine variety, with emerging varieties being trialed with great success. Rich in history, Gisborne claims Captain Cook’s first landfall, as well as being the first place in New Zealand to see the sunrise.</p><p>Rich in history, Gisborne claims Captain Cook’s first landfall, as well as being the first place in New Zealand to see the sunrise.</p><p>*Photo credit Villa Maria</p>

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<h4>Canterbury</h4><p>In the southern area the soils are mainly alluvial silt loams over gravel subsoils while in Waipara they are chalky loams that are often rich in limestone. Long, dry summers, abundant sunshine and relatively cool growing conditions are a feature in both areas although Waipara, which is sheltered from the coast by a low range of hills, can be significantly warmer.</p><p>Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the most widely planted grape varieties, together making up nearly 60% of the region's vineyard. Riesling is the third most popular variety with Sauvignon Blanc in fourth place. Canterbury is New Zealand's fourth largest wine region.</p><h4>Waipara</h4><p>The Waipara Valley is snuggled in the lee of the Teviotdale hills that provide protection from cool easterly winds but leave it open to warming north west winds. The valley has three general sites - valley floor, hill slopes or river terraces. The soil types include gravelly deposits on flats and terraces in the central and west of the valley, limestone derived clays on hillsides and valley floor to the eastern side and gravelly loams over alluvial subsoil in the southern part of the region. The north facing moderately sloping terrain provides an ideal sun trap for fruiting vines.</p><p>This terroir gives each vineyard unique characters that contribute to a range of wine styles. It takes a visit to each winery to fully appreciate Waipara. The “terroir” combined with the long, hot autumn period helps produce unique richer, spicier Pinot Noirs and Rieslings – regional specialties. Other varieties of note include Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.</p><h4>Waitaki Valley</h4><p>Recent expansion into the inland sub-region of Waitaki Valley on the North Otago boundary shows real promise; its loess and limestone/ greywacke/schist soils, warm summers and long dry autumns give varietal intensity, complex fruit and a distinct mineral character to the predominantly Pinot Noir and aromatic plantings.</p><p>*photo credit Lake Forsyth Vineyard</p>

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<h4>Marlborough</h4><p>What is it that makes the wines of Marlborough so distinctively exquisite? As with any of the great wine making regions of the world, the answer lies in a magical synergy of climate and soil, underpinned by our desire to express this unique terroir. Here in the north-eastern corner of New Zealand’s South Island, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east and towering mountain ranges in the hinterlands to the north and south, a broad alluvial plain stretches from the coastline, gradually rising into narrow valleys with favourable northerly aspects. Ours is a diverse landscape of spectacular natural beauty and bounty.</p><p>In past centuries Maori hunted moa here and cultivated vast kumara crops in the year round sunshine. Early European settlers established New Zealand’s pastoral industry on the fertile rolling downs of the river valleys. In 1873, long before the modern day vintners recognised the extraordinary potential to produce great wine in this region, pioneering Scottish farmer and grape grower David Herd planted Marlborough’s first vineyard. It was to be another 100 years before that vision took root with the development of viticulture in Marlborough on a commercial scale.</p><p></p><p>Today Marlborough is recognised as one of the premium wine regions of the world. New Zealand’s leading wine region, Marlborough draws international acclaim that far outweighs its size. In the span of just a few decades, winemakers have embraced this small, yet geographically diverse region, exploring the nuances offered by its landscape to craft exhilarating flavours in many different wine styles.</p><p>Each expresses the indelible mark of place that is Marlborough.</p><p>*photo credit The Crossings, Marlborough</p>

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<h4>Nelson</h4><p>The softly rolling Moutere Hills are formed from the weathered gravels of an ancient river system, which originally reached from St Arnaud to the coast. The gravel-threaded clay soils are renowned for producing wines of richness and texture. The Pinot Noir is deeply flavoured with fine tannins and elegance. The Chardonnay is complex and multi-faceted with excellent structure. Winemakers also produce excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris.</p><p>Waimea means ’river gardens’ in Maori - with stony soils of alluvial origin, high sunshine hours and a moderating maritime influence, the Waimea Plains provide a great terroir. The aromatic whites are vibrant wines, often with a flinty backbone acting as a counterpoint to the overt fruit flavours, while the Chardonnay here is richly expressive with fine acid structure. The Pinot Noir is perfumed and pretty - plum and cherry characters on the nose with the ripeness carrying through to the supple tannins on the palate.</p><p>Simply unforgettable.</p><p>Per hectare of vines planted, Nelson consistently wins more awards than the other regions in New Zealand.&nbsp; The region has a great reputation for the aromatic varieties – Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer. It also has its own distinctive take on Sauvignon Blanc, some exquisite examples of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and some superb “stickies”. Nelson wines are sold around the world, but you have the chance to experience our wines in the place they were created.</p><p><em>“It is this skilled, artistic approach to winemaking rather than a factory-focused one that makes the synergy between wine and art so natural in the Nelson region. These are creative people with a hands-on approach to the winemaking process”.</em><br>- Joelle Thomson, Wine Writer</p><p><em>“Nelson is home to New Zealand’s finest aromatics”</em><br>- Steven Spurrier, Decanter UK</p><p><em>“There’s no doubt that Nelson produces some of the country’s most irresistible and gratifying wines”</em><br>- Sam Kim</p><p>*Photo credit Mahana Estate, Nelson</p>

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<h4>Waiheke Island</h4><p>Waiheke Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, a short ferry ride from downtown Auckland, was established from the early 1980's as a premium district for the production of high quality red wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It has since expanded to include Syrah, Chardonnay and other varietals that perform particularly well in the warm, dry summer climate of Waiheke.</p><p>Discover Waiheke Island</p><p>Just 35 minutes by ferry from Downtown Auckland, Waiheke Island has become known as New Zealand's ‘Island of Wine' - home to a dedicated group of award-winning winegrowers who have successfully matched the unique maritime climate and ancient soil structures to the selection of classical grape varieties in order to produce red and white wines with distinctive varietal character.</p><p>With a total planted area of just 216 hectares divided among 30 growers, wine production is small and top vintages are keenly awaited with labels such as Goldwater Estate, Stonyridge Larose, Passage Rock and Cable Bay having an international following and most small producers having a loyal mail order clientele.</p><p>Waiheke is also the ‘Island of wine tourism', attracting over 1,000,000 visitors a year and providing the main economic driver for the island's 8,000 permanent residents. In the November to March summer months, when the vines are in full leaf, the resident population swells to 40,000 and the restaurants, cafes and art galleries do a roaring business.</p><p>The principal varieties now grown on the island are Syrah, Chardonnay and Merlot.</p><h4>Matakana</h4><p>Matakana, on the east coast about one hour's drive north of Auckland city is also producing some classy wines, including Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, plus reds based on Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.</p><p>Discover Matakana</p><p>Matakana is a small New Zealand town situated 10km east of Warkworth and less than one hour's drive north of Auckland.</p><p>Premium wines have been produced in the area for some time and there are several new vineyards being developed.</p><p>Almost all the vineyards are on slopes, which helps to drain the clay soils. Traditionally a red wine growing region there are now some outstanding white wines - especially Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. However the classic red varieties of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinotage, Pinot Noir and Sangiovese have shown consistent excellence</p><h4>Clevedon</h4><p>Auckland's most recent premium wine district, Clevedon has established small pockets of vines in the rolling farmlands about half an hour south of the city. A wide range of varieties is cultivated – including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay, plus more unexpected varieties such as Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Montepulciano.</p><p>Climatically, Auckland enjoys warm, primarily frost-free conditions with relatively high rainfall. Auckland vineyards are established on clay soils of volcanic, greywacke or mixed alluvial origin.</p><h4>West Auckland/Kumeu</h4><p>Many of New Zealand's oldest wine families still calling this warm and fertile region home, after settling here nearly 100 years ago. The sub-region's old Chardonnay and Merlot vines produce fruit that is used to create stylish wines, which have gained much international acclaim.</p><p>*Photo credit Man’O’War, Waiheke Island</p>

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<h4>Northland</h4><p>Its northern location and closeness to the sea (nowhere is the sea more than 50 kilometres away) give the Northland region an almost subtropical climate - humid, sunny and warm. With the country's highest average annual temperature, the total amount of heat available to the vines to ripen their grapes during the growing season is greater in Northland than in any of the country's other wine regions. Soils are mainly clay-rich loam soils over a sub-soil of compact clay, with most of the region's land lying below 150 metres.</p><p>In terms of wines styles, the regions tropical Chardonnays, popular Pinot Gris and vibrant Viogniers are leading the white wine growth, whilst red wines include spicy Syrahs, stylish Cabernet / Merlot blends, peppery Pinotages and complex Chambourcin.</p><p>*photo credit Karikari Estate</p>

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<h4>Hawke's Bay</h4><p>Located at 39.4° South (the same as Madrid in the North), Hawke’s Bay is one of the hottest and sunniest areas of New Zealand. A maritime climate, free draining soil types with natural low fertility, prevailing hot dry north westerly winds, low rainfall and a long growing season provide for a range of of vineyard sites suitable for a diversity of varieties. Over 25 different soil types make up the 4,947 wine producing hectares in Hawke's Bay.</p><p>Hawke's Bay has the highest percentage of Sustainable Winegrowing NZ (SWNZ) accredited wineries in the country. Of the 172 vineyards in the region, 70% are SWNZ accredited. Hawke's Bay is committed to this independently audited sustainability programme and these numbers will increase.</p><p>Combining new world fruit flavours with old world structure, Hawke’s Bay red wines are unique and elegant. Competitive in quality to world class red wines everywhere and competitive in price against the ultra premium wines of the world, Hawke’s Bay has grown to be the home of over 80 wineries and 170 wine grape growers. History, consistency, diversity and innovation continue to provide the foundation for Hawke’s Bay’s reputation as a quality producer of world class wines.</p><p>*photo credit Supernatural Wine, Hawkes Bay</p>

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<h4>Wairarapa</h4><p>A boutique region, Wairarapa has just 3% of New Zealand’s land under vine, and contributes to 1% of its total production.</p><p>A range of styles and varieties are on offer, such as standout Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and aromatics, as well as stylish Chardonnay, Syrah and dessert wines.</p><p>The three main sub-regions in the area are Martinborough, Gladstone and Masterton. These sub-regions share a similar climate and soil structures, yet offer subtle differences in character for the discerning palate to explore.</p><p>Wairarapa’s modern wine history dates from the late 1970s plantings of Martinborough, which included producers such as: Dry River, Martinborough Vineyard, Ata Rangi and Chifney (now Margrain).</p><p>*Thank you to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://nzwine.com">nzwine.com</a> for content</p><p>*photo credit James Murdoch Estate Wines</p>

Discover New Zealand’s Wine Regions

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