Discover New Zealand’s Wine Regions

“New Zealand’s wine regions are at their most spectacular in autumn when the days are long and bathed in late sunshine – it’s an ideal time to savour and enjoy the country’s sauvignon blancs, alternative albarinos and Rieslings,” as reported in an article in The Financial Express, which highlights the most popular wine regions in New Zealand.

Auckland

According to the article “Auckland is the nation’s wine industry headquarters, with four destinations within an hour’s travel. Kumeu River Wines is 20 minutes’ drive from the city, Waiheke Island is a 40-minute ferry ride from the CBD and the towns of Matakana and Warkworth are an hour’s drive to North.”

Gisborne

Gisborne is “the fourth-largest wine region in the country” and is also known “as the Chardonnay capital of New Zealand”.

Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay is the “country’s second-biggest wine region, with nearly 5000 hectares of grapevines”.  Gimblett Gravels is the region’s best known wine area.

The Wairarapa

“ The Wairarapa is home to only three per cent of New Zealand’s grapes, due to the decimating effects of strong spring winds, but the grapes feature a distinct flavour,” as reported in the article.

Marlborough

“Marlborough reigns in size, economic importance and production of New Zealand’s biggest wine success story to date: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The region’s sauvignons now account for 85.6 per cent of the country’s exports, the vast majority from Marlborough where there are 141 wineries and 24,000 hectares of producing grapevines.”

Nelson

Nelson is the northernmost wine region in the South Island. “Its historic wine strengths have tended to be whites with chardonnay, gewurztraminer, riesling and sauvignon blanc harnessing a strong reputation.”

North Canterbury

This wine region, 40 minutes North of Christchurch is now the hub of Canterbury’s wine industry. Its most renowned wines are its rieslings (both bone-dry and sweet ones), as reported in the article.

Central Otago

In Central Otago “local winemakers are largely reliant on pinot noir, with 80 per cent of their vineyards devoted to this early-ripening grape. The white wines here are dwarfed by pinot power, but the rieslings, pinot gris, pinot blancs, chenin blanc and chardonnays also offer quality.”

Article Source: The Financial Express, March 15, 2017

Image Source: Twitter – I Love NZ Wine