Take your fancy
A guide to some of New Zealand’s best wine regions by Juliette Sivertsen
Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest wine region, and second-largest, with its earliest vines dating back to 1851.
The sun-drenched region can produce diverse wines, but some of its standouts are full-bodied chardonnay and aromatic syrah varieties.
There are about 35 cellar doors in Hawke’s Bay and more than 200 vineyards, with cycle tours a popular way of exploring them all. Some of them are by appointment only, while others are open daily, so do your research first about which ones to book in advance.
The region has a temperate climate making it ideal for visiting year-round.
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a small, boutique winegrowing region, an hour north of Wellington. Vines were first planted in the region in 1883, although the region’s modern wine history is considered to have begun in the late 1970s.
There are three main sub-regions: Masterton, Gladstone and Martinborough.
Martinborough is the most well known due to the number of small, boutique wineries all close to the main village square.
The flagship wine of this area is pinot noir.
The Toast Martinborough wine and food festival is a great way to experience the region’s best wines, and is usually held each November.
Marlborough
The top of the South Island is home to New Zealand’s largest wine region. It is best known for its sauvignon blanc, whose grapes cover the majority of the Marlborough region, at
22,369ha. It’s a wine that matches well with the region’s fresh kaimoana.
The wine harvest takes place between March and
April, which makes it an interesting time to visit, with sunny, dry days and cool nights.
North Canterbury
North Canterbury has a cool, dry climate and its wines are known for their intensity. Pinot noir grapes make up the majority of vines, but the region produces good chardonnay and aromatics as well. On one side are the magnificent Southern Alps, and to the east, the Pacific Ocean.
The Waipara Valley — not to be confused with the other wine region of
Wairarapa — is a boutique winegrowing region an hour from Christchurch, with a new cycle and walking trail that connects a number of cellar doors. Vines were planted there only in the 1980s, so it’s considered one of the country’s fastest-growing wine regions, currently home to about 80 vineyards and 25 wineries.
Central Otago
Most famous for its pinot noir, Central Otago has six different wine sub-regions, all producing their own unique flavours.
It has a harsh climate with cold, frosty winters but hot, dry summers. Each season has its own unique feel, making it a year-round destination, as long as you prepare for the climate.
The region also produces excellent aromatics, including pinot gris and gewurztraminer, as well as chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.