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Countries index – Winemaking – Grapes
| New Zealand: The winegrowing areas of NZ extend some 1600km from the sub-tropical Northland region (35° S) to the Central Otago wine region (45° S) – it is home to the world’s most southerly vineyards. These wine regions are mostly planted on the eastern coastlines of the North and South Islands, in the rain shadow of the mountains. Each region has its own unique soils and climatic conditions.  Image source: grape-to-glass.com |
QUICK LINKS TO NEW ZEALAND REGIONS
| Auckland Central Otaga Gisborne Hawkes Bay Marlborough Nelson | North Canterbury Northland Waikato Waitaki Valley Wairarapa |
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[Ncan]
NEW ZEALAND REGION-BY-REGION
| Auckland: Auckland is one of New Zealand’s oldest wine regions, established in the early 1900s by Croatian, English and Lebanese winemakers.  Image source: winetourism.com Areas: Clevedon, Great Barrier Island Matakana, Waiheke Island, West Auckland Grapes: Red: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo, White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris  Image source: nzwine.com | North Canterbury: South Island, along the eastern coastline, from the Alps to the Pacific Ocean.  Image source: nzwine.com Areas: Banks Peninsula, Canterbury Plains, Waipara Valley (North Canterbury) Grapes: Red: Pinot Noir White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Riesling. Sauvignon blanc Image source: nzwine.com |
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[Nort]
| Central Otaga: Noted as ‘pre-eminently suitable’ for winemaking (Bragato, 1895), the region’s first Gold Medal was for ‘Burgundy’ in Sydney in 1881. A resurgence in the 1950s was followed by commitment by the 1970s winegrowing pioneers.  Image source: jancisrobinson.com Areas: Alexandra, Bannockburn, Bendigo, Cromwell, Giibston, Kawarau River, Lowburn, Pisa, Wanaka Grapes: Red: Pinot Noir White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc  Image source: nzwine.com | Northland: The first vines in NZ were planted in the Bay of Islands by the missionary, Reverend Samuel Marsden in 1819. In the late 1800s, Croatian gumdiggers arrived bringing the European traditions of winemaking. Image source: wine-searcher.com Areas: Bay of Islands, Dargaville, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Whangarei Grapes: Red: Merlot, Syrah White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Image source: nzwine.com |
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| Gisborne: Gisborne claims Captain Cook’s first landfall, as well as being the first place in New Zealand to see the sunrise. It is home to a mix of large producers, boutique wineries, and entrepreneurial growers Image source: nzwine.com Areas: Central Valley, Manutuke, Patutahi, Ormond Grapes: Red: Merlot White: Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc  Image source: nzwine.com | Waikato: A region of the upper North Island of NZ. The name for the region is taken from the Waikato River; waikato is a Māori word traditionally translated as flowing water. Image source: dehek.com Areas: Coromandel Peninsula, Hamilton City, Hauraki, King Country, Matamata-Piako District, Rotorua Lakes District, South Waikato District, Taupō District, Waikato District, Waipa District, Grapes: Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc  Image source: Wikimedia Common |
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[Waip]
| Hawkes Bay: NZ’s second largest wine region, Hawke’s Bay was an abundant source of wine since 1851.  Image source: therealreview.com Areas: Alluvial Plains (Bridge Pa Triangle, Gimblet Gravels, Meeanee, Taradale), Central Hawke’s Bay, Coastal (Bay View, Esk Valley, Te Awanga), Hillsides (Havelock, Maraekakaho), River Valleys Grapes: Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc Image source: nzwine.com | Waitaki Valley: Vines were first planted in 2001, so it’s a relatively new wine region but the complex limestone/greywacke/schist soils have attracted a handful of adventurous producers. Image source: nzwine.com Areas: Kurow, Oamuru Grapes: Red: Pinot Noir White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Riesling Image source: nzwine.com |
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[Wair]
| Marlborough: This area put NZ upon the international wine stage with its Sauvignon Blanc in the 1980s. Maori call the Wairau Valley ‘Kei puta te Wairau’ – ‘The place with the hole in the cloud’. Image source: marlboroughwinenz.com Areas: Awatere Valley, Southern Valleys, Wairau Valley Grapes: Red: Pinot Noir White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc Image source: nzwine.com | Wairarapa: Vines were first planted here in 1883 but fell victim to the temperance movement in 1905. Wairarapa’s modern wine history dates from the late 1970s and the region boasts some of NZ’s most iconic and sought after producers. Image source: nzwine.com Areas: Gladstone, Martinborough, Masterton Grapes: Red: Pinot Noir White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc. Image source: nzwine.com |
[Nels]
| Nelson: This is a boutique wine-producing region. Its wine roots were cultivated in the mid-1800s, when German settlers planted the first vines. Pioneering 1970s producers established the modern wine industry – with iconic names such as Seifried and Neudorf still going strong.  Image source: cellarmaison.com Areas: Moutere Hills, Waimea Plains (Waimea is Maori for river garden) Grapes: Red: Pinot Noir White: Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc. Image source: nzwine.com |
Wines of New Zealand
Image source: winecompanion.com.au
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