3 weeks Ago By Mikeandjeffrr
Mention New Zealand to any wine lover and the first thing that comes to mind is Sauvignon Blanc, and for good reason: Of the 103,000-plus acres of wine grapes growing there, about two-thirds of them—68,702 acres total—are dedicated to that refreshing white variety. There is far more Sauvignon Blanc cultivated in New Zealand than the country’s second most populous grape, Pinot Noir, which thrives on a little more than 14,000 acres. The country’s leading red wine and second largest export after Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir is made in a variety of styles in New Zealand thanks to the country’s diversity of climates and soils.
Some of the best comes from the South Island, especially Central Otago, with vineyards that are among the farthest south of any wine region in the world. Just about every major red grape grows in New Zealand in some amount, including Gamay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. Wine grapes were first planted in New Zealand in 1819.
In 1836, James Busby, the Scotsman known as the Father of Australian Viticulture, brought grape cuttings here after studying winemaking and viticulture in Spain and France. Immigrants from several European nations have contributed to New Zealand’s winemaking history, including French Catholic missionaries and laborers from Italy and Croatia. Wine is made from the top of the North Island to rather far south in the South Island, with 95 percent of it bottled under screwcap.
You’ve probably noticed more and more wine from New Zealand on store shelves and on wine lists; in the past 10 years exports of wine from the Land of the Long White Cloud to the United States have more than doubled. Besides Sauvignon Blanc and red wines, New Zealand is also known for its Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc. As we wrote in our 2014 book, Wines of the Southern Hemisphere, “If Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is what put this lush island nation on the world wine map, exquisite Pinot Noir, Bordeaux blends, and white aromatic varietals will keep it there.
” Here are some terrific New Zealand reds to look for..
