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New Zealand Wines
New Zealand has about 12 major winiers that produce some of the finest wines in the world. With the combination of stunning, unspolied landscape, climate and human skill create outstanding wine. New Zealand's temperate, maritine climate makes for a perfect coastal grape growing vineyards. Long slow weather periods helps retain the vibrant flavours that make New Zealand Wine stand out. The local winiers have developed practices that has delivered high quality in a sustainable and eviromental manner.
North Island Wine Region
Northland
In 1819 was one of the first vines that was planted in Northland. Kaitaia on the west coast in the far north. The Bay of Islands on the northern east coast and near Whangarei are the three districts that this region is spread across. Northland has the warmest climate that helps with the ripening of the grapes. The most popular of wines from this region is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, the rigions most planted varities.
Auckland
Henderson, Kumeu and Huapai are the main wine making districts of the Auckland Region. Cabernet Savignon, Merlot and Chardonnay are the most widly planted in the Auckland Region. Auckland soils are mostly shallow clays over hard silty clay subsoils. Vineyards are mostly planted in pockets of flat land on the drier east coast. Matakana, on the east coast is about a hours drive north from Auckland City, it has earned an enviable reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon and has since undergone a very rapid exspansion in both red and white wine.
Waikato
The Waikato Region is south of Auckland is small but growing set of vineyards scatterd amount the rolling farmland. Chardonnay is mainly grown here with Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc are close behind. Waikato enjoys warm climate by New Zealand standards.
Bay of Plenty
This winery is located right at the entrance of a awesome looking natural harbor in the Bay of Plenty. The town of Tauranga is a great place for a wine tour and enjoy great scenery, good food and fine New Zealand wine.
Hawks Bay
New Zealands 2nd largest region. With the large range of soil and the wide range of weather produces a wide varity of wines. 22 types of soil on the Heretaunga Plains alone, from stones to hard pans to heavy silts. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape varity. Carnermet Savignon, Merot, Carbenet Franc and Syrah and Pinot Noir are the wines that are grown in this region.
Gisborne
The vineyards of Gisborne has the most easterly grape fields of the country. They get the the first rays of the sun of each day. This region has the most sunlight hours on coastal plains. Soils include alluvial loams over sand or volcanic subsoils of moderate fertility. Chardonnay grows around half of Gisborne's vineyards and has lead Gisbornes grapegrowers and winemakers to christen their region the Chardonnay capital of New Zealand.
Wellington
This is the largest region which occupies the southern section of the North Island. Pinot Noir is the region's most planyed and certainly most acclaimed grape variety. Offically New Zealands sixth largest region, Wellington is small in production terms but makes a large contribution to the country's quality winemaking reputation/
South Island Wine Regions
Nelson
Nelson is the country's eight largest wine region. The region is sited on the western side of the country near the northern tip of the South Island. A mountain range to the west of the region provides a rain shadow effect while coastline helps to moderate temperature extremes. Chardonnay, Savignon Blanc, Resling and Pinot Noir account for over 80% of the region's vineyard area.
Malbourough
Back in 1973 when the first vineyards where planted no one thought that they would bcome the largest and the best know winegrowing area in little more than 20 years. Savignon Blanc is the most planted grape variety with Chardonnay in second, followed by Pinot Noir and Riesling.
Cantabury
This region has two major areas of vineyards. The plains around the city of Christchurch, and the newest deleveloped valley area of Waipara and hour's drive north od Christchruch. The southern soils are mainly alluvial silt loams over gravel subsoils. This plus long dry summers, plenty of sunshine and cool growing conditions make up great setting for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are also grown in this region.
Otago Wanaka
Central Otago is New Zealands Highest and the world's most southerly wine region.It is also the only true continental climate with greater extremes of daily and seasonal temperatures. Pinot Noir is the dominant grape variety, Chardonnay rank second with Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling a distant third and forth. Th wines of Central Otago have a purity, intensity and vibrancy that seems totally appropriate to anyone who has visited the region and breathed the pure mountain air.
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