Introduction to New Zealand Wines – Part Two

Wairarapa

Just north of capital city Wellington, at the Southern tip of the North Island, the Wairarapa region is notably home to the town of Martinborough. Martinborough is perhaps less famous than Central Otago, however it is known to produce similarly excellent Pinot Noir. Martinborough wineries, including Martinborough Vineyards, Palliser Estate and Ata Rangi.

Marlborough

Marlborough is the power house of New Zealand wine, driving the commercial operations and setting a unique style that is known globally. While the zesty, fresh and fruit-forward Sauvignon Blanc is synonymous with Marlborough, there are equally good Pinot Noir, Riesling and other varieties doing well here. Several wineries have experimented in a fumé blanc style, such as Cloudy Bay’s Te Koko, an oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc.

Nelson

Just adjacent to Marlborough, the region of Nelson is largely overshadowed by its neighbour. Producing much smaller quantities, and specialising in Chardonnay and other aromatic varieties like Pinot Gris, Nelson has some very fine wine that attracts the worlds attention. Neudorf winery is a notable producer.

Canterbury

A large region stretching from East Coast of the South Island to the Alps, bordering Marlborough and Central Otago at the North and South. This cool climate region excels at Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Gris. The Waipara Valley has been at the forefront of great production, with a temperate microclimate. Pyramid Valley is based here, a winery that lead the way in terms of skin-contact white wines and natural wine production in New Zealand.

Central Otago

New Zealand’s most southerly wine region, with a number of valleys protected from the ubiquitous coastline, creating micro-climates of the only continental character in the country. Production is dominated by Pinot Noir, which typically is made in a generous, fruit-driven style. The popularity of Central Otago Pinot Noir has driven international interest in red wine from New Zealand.

Explore our other favourite wine regions of the world, as well as those across Australia.

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Kieran Clarkin

Digital Marketing and Tour Host at Wine Compass

Kieran is a WSET Diploma student, Chin Chin sommelier and host for Wine Compass. He loves chatting about wine, hosting tastings and getting people interested in wine generally. He's big into Victorian wine, the Loire Valley and the very under-rated wines of Greece.