NEW
ZEALAND
AUCKLAND
Auckland
is home to several Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay plantations and
has been established as a fashionable district for the production of high
quality red wines. This reputation has caused Auckland has undergo rapid growth in red and
white wine production.
CANTERBURY
Canterbury is New Zealand’s
fourth largest wine region. With its abundant sunshine yet cool growing
conditions its plantations are made up mainly of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
grapes with Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc following.
GISBORNE
Being the world’s most easterly wine region, Gisborne vines
are the first to see the sun each day. The abundant sun exposure encourages
fertile soil and healthy fruit which is a responsible for the great wine that
comes out of Gisborne, known as the Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand. Gisborne is predominantly white wine region
with only 10% of plantations of red grapes.
HAWKES BAY
Hawkes Bay is New Zealand’s second largest wine
region and has been respected in the wine industry for over 100 years.
Chardonnay is its most widely planted grape and the extensive amount of
sunlight results in a high percentage of slow-ripening red grapes such as
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz
and Pinot Noir.
MARLBOROUGH
Marlborough wines have
distinctive sharp and zesty fruit flavours, particularly prominent in Sauvignon
Blanc wines which are the most planted grape variety in Marlborough. Closely following is the
Chardonnay grape, Pinot Noir and Riesling.
WAIRARAPA
Wairarapa’s most
planted grape is the Pinot Noir. It also boasts successful Sauvignon Blanc
wines and makes an all round large contribution to New Zealand’s winemaking
reputation.
