NZ Wine - An Introduction

Over the course of 28 days in October 2015, our family took a grand tour through New Zealand's North and South Islands. My wife, Lindsay, and I were near the end of a 10 month global sabbatical. My parents, Ron and Karen, who raised me with an appreciation for fine wine and international travel, met us in Auckland to join for three weeks of the journey. If there were an official theme for the country of New Zealand, we discovered it would undoubtedly be “Wine and Adventure”.

We visited an astounding 41 cellar doors across six regions during those three weeks. It was a thorough, and thoroughly enjoyable, crash course in New Zealand wine. The Kiwis have made a big name for themselves with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, and many American wine drinkers are familiar with ubiquitous imports like Nobilo, Monkey Bay, and Kim Crawford. The scope of New Zealand wine goes well beyond those brands in terms of variety and quality.

Wine Regions of NZ. Map courtesy of nzwine.com.

As we traveled, I studied the viticulture, wine production, and different expressions of varieties among the regions. For instance, Sauvignon Blanc from Martinborough on the North Island is consistently herbaceous, fuller-bodied and minerally. However, in Marlborough on the South Island, it is more often citrusy, tart, and refreshing. In addition to the widespread Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand yields some incredible Syrah, Pinot Gris, and Riesling deserving of your attention.

Many of the renowned producers you’ll read about in this issue export at least a few of their styles to the United States. We are fortunate that with a national population of only 5 million, New Zealand relies on the demand in foreign markets.

​In addition to the high quality of wine, New Zealand is a joy for wine travel. Cellar doors are usually open for walk-ins and span the spectrum from casual to upscale. The Kiwis, as a people, are incessantly gregarious and hospitable.  Ultimately, as you travel between cities and regions, you’ll be treated to undeniably the most majestic landscapes on Earth.

Regional Overviews

Stony Ridge vineyard on Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island

A quick day-trip from Auckland by ferry, Waiheke Island is a semi-secluded place reminiscent of New England vacation destinations like Martha's Vineyard. Green rolling hills, steep sandy beaches, and circling yachts lend this island substantial charm. The handful of wineries on Waiheke are spread out, yet accessible by a surprisingly reliable circulator bus.

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Elephant Hill winery is situated next to Cape Kidnappers at Hawke's Bay

Hawke’s Bay

The Hawke’s Bay region on the South Island’s east coast is home to about 70 wineries which, aided by the warm maritime climate, produce primarily Bordeaux varietals, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Winegrowing areas are centered around the charismatic Art Deco town of Napier. While Hawke’s Bay ranks a distant second for wine production behind Marlborough, expect this region to ascend in prominence rapidly.

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Schubert Wines in Martinborough, a leading producer of Pinot Noir and Syrah

Martinborough

The Martinborough wine subregion of Wairarapa is about 80 kilometers east of Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. In the compact, quaint central village of Martinborough, the laid-back vibe carries through to every aspect of the wine industry. Wine tourism isn't overblown or seriously commercialized. Enjoy the chance to taste wines with the winemakers themselves as you pedal rental bikes between cellar doors. Martinborough accounts for just one percent of New Zealand’s wine production by volume, yet the wines are of phenomenal quality. Several distinguished Pinot Noir houses help Martinborough punch above its weight.

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Marlborough

This South Island region is the flagship of New Zealand wine, producing 77% of the country’s volume. Sauvignon Blanc is king, with nearly 18,000 hectares (44,000 acres) of it planted, equal to the entirety of Napa Valley under vine and eclipsing the next most planted variety, Pinot Noir, by sevenfold. There are many wineries to explore surrounding Blenheim and Renwick, the two main towns of the region, with luxury and casual experiences to suit anyone’s travel style. Every winery sits somewhere in the vast Wairau or Awatere Valleys, which bless them with lovely green mountain backdrops.

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Neudorf vertical of Chardonnay

Nelson

Overshadowed by its neighbor to the east, Marlborough, the wine region of Nelson is home to a small number of boutique wineries. Although Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc dominate the winegrowing acreage, Chardonnay is the most acclaimed varietal coming out of Nelson. ​

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Central Otago

Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand, lies at the heart of Central Otago. After summoning the courage to bungy jump or skydive, you can reward yourself with a glass of extraordinary Pinot Noir. Internationally celebrated wineries, whose Pinots frequently make wine critics’ annual Top 100 lists, are laced throughout the jagged mountains and gorges. Distinctive Riesling is gathering steam here, too.

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