New Zealand

Northland

The most northerly wine region in New Zealand, and thus closest to the equator.

Auckland

This region lies around New Zealand's largest city. Producing mainly red wines from grapes grown on heavy clay soil. It is the warmest New Zealand's vine-growing areas.

Gisborne

A small wine region to the north of Hawkes Bay. Noted for its Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. It is also the worlds most easterly vineyard.

Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay, along with Marlborough, is the centre of gravity for the New Zealand wine industry; it is New Zealand's oldest wine producing area and is the country's second largest wine production region. The premiere area for Bordeaux blend reds in New Zealand and the region is rapidly developing a reputation for quality Syrah. Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc are produced and lately Viognier.

Wellington/Wairarapa

The Wellington/Wairarapa wine-growing region is one of New Zealand's smallest, with several sub-regions, which include Gladstone, Martinborough, Masterton, and Opaki. Martinborough was the original area planted, on the basis of careful scientific study, in the 1970s, which identified its soils and climate as perfectly suited to the cultivation of Pinot noir. As a consequence, many of the vineyards established there are older than their counterparts in the rest of the Wairarapa. Subtle differences are seen in the wines from the South Wairarapa (which includes Martinborough), which has more maritime influences, to those grown further north.

Nelson

Many people believe Nelson has the best climate in New Zealand, as it regularly tops the national statistics for sunshine hours, with an annual average total of over 2400 hours.the long autumns here permit the production of fine late-harvest wines.

Marlborough including Wairau Valley

In many respects, the Wairau Valley and the districts surrounding Blenheim are the home of the modern New Zealand wine industry. It is the largest wine district in terms of production and area under vines. It has a number of sub-regions including the Waihopai valley, Renwick and the Spring Creek area.

Waitaki River Basin

New Zealand's newest wine growing region, located on the border of Otago and Canterbury. Wine producers include Pasquale, Ostler, Waitaki Braids and Forrest. Pinot noir is produced here, as well as white aromatic varieties including Riesling, Pinot gris, Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay.

Central Otago

The most southerly wine producing region in the world. The vineyards are also the highest in New Zealand at 200 to 400 metres above sea level on the steep slopes of lakesides and the edges of deep river gorges, often also in glacial soils. Central Otago is a sheltered inland area with a continental microclimate characterised by hot, dry summers, short, cool autumns and crisp, cold winters.