New Zealand

Like many New World countries, New Zealand’s wine industry is comparatively recent. However, over the last few decades it has moved from producing tiny volume of Müller Thurgau just for the local market, to become one of the key players in the global wine industry. It has pioneered a style of Sauvignon Blanc that charmed the world with its purity and vibrancy of fruit. This aromatic and refreshing white has become a world-classic associated with this country since the 70’s.

The country has gradually established itself as a premium wine region, producing other varietals that are also gaining popularity such as Pinot Noir and Riesling. With so much international acclaim, it’s easy to forget how small it still is as a global player. In 2010, the area under-vine was just over 30,000 hectares, which is less than a third of the Bordeaux’s vineyard area. There is also a growing number of boutique wineries focused on high quality wines.

Located 1,900 km away from the nearest land mass, Australia, New Zealand consists of two long and narrow islands. The North Island generally enjoys a cool-to-moderate maritime climate, while the South Island is significantly cooler but sunnier and drier.

Situated on the east coast of North Island, Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s warmest wine growing region and produces diverse wine style and grape varieties with varied soil and aspects (direction towards which the slope faces). Its highly reputed Gimblett Gravels district is renowned for growing black varieties such as Bordeaux varieties and Syrah.

On the southern end of the North Island is found the region of Wairarapa. The area under vine is very small but there are many small-scale producers in pursuit of high quality wines in this region. Pinot Noir from here has helped put New Zealand red wine on the world map.

Located on the north east of the South Island, Marlborough is where the New Zealand’s signature style of Sauvignon Blanc was pioneered. Nowadays, it is the largest wine region in New Zealand. Sauvignon Blanc is, without doubt, Marlborough's most planted variety, followed by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for both still and sparking wine production. The region also produces Riesling from dry to sweet style.

Sitting inland in the foothill of the Southern Alps, Central Otago is the only winegrowing area in New Zealand that enjoys a continental climate. With a large diurnal temperature range, intensely fruity Pinot Noir is the dominant grape and it has gained a global reputation.