Drinking to Paradise - Wine
Premium quality wine is a New Zealand speciality. Although wine has been produced in New Zealand since the arrival of the first settlers, it is only in recent years - as consumers around the globe embrace the qualities of boutique wine - that the wine industry has rapidly expanded.
Parts of the country that enjoy hot, dry summers have become internationally renowned for the high quality of the wine they produce. New Zealand regularly enjoys success at international wine competitions. There are ten main wine-growing regions in New Zealand. Each growing area has a particular climate and terrain that produces a distinctive type of wine. The major growing areas are on the sunny and dry eastern parts of the country - Gisborne and Hawke's Bay in the North Island and Marlborough in the South Island. Other important areas, several of them promising to rival the 'big three' in future, are Martinborough, the Auckland region, Nelson, Canterbury and Queenstown.
In Auckland, look for superb chardonnays such as Kumeu River. Waiheke Island has many boutique wineries and is known for its red wines. Matakana, north of Auckland, produces merlot, syrah (shiraz), chardonnay and pinot gris. Gisborne, chardonnay capital of New Zealand, produces delicious examples of this popular wine. They're distinctive in that high levels of sugar in the fruit means they can be enjoyed as young as six months old, although good examples will cellar well for several years.
The Hawke's Bay has one of the longest traditions of wine making in New Zealand. A dry, sunny and long growing season makes for ripe fruit and high alcohol content! The chardonnay from this part of the world is stunning and it is widely accepted that the Hawke's Bay produces New Zealand's best reds - popularly merlot, but syrah is catching on. Martinborough, in the Wairarapa region north of Wellington, is not a big wine-growing area but it does produce some of the country's premium wines. Look for pinot noir of a particularly high standard, but this is a versatile district that also produces good merlot, chardonnay, gewurztraminer, sauvignon blanc, Riesling and pinot gris. Marlborough is the capital of New Zealand wine producing. Many consider it the sauvignon blanc capital of the world. Hot sunny days combined with crisp nights intensify grape flavour and preserve acidity. All of which means stunningly intense sauvignon blanc that's recognised by wine drinkers all over the globe. In addition, look for pinot noir, Riesling, chardonnay, gewurztraminer, pinot gris and sparkling wines.
Wine production in Canterbury has increased exponentially in recent years. There are two sub-regions here: the Waipara Valley in the north and the plains further south. The crisp climate makes for good chardonnays and sauvignon blanc/Semillon blends. Canterbury Rieslings are more intensely fragrant than their northern counterparts and the pinot noirs are some of the best in the country. Central Otago is home to some of the southernmost vineyards in the world. The emphasis is on pinot noir - wonderfully fragrant and enjoyable when only just over a year old. Central Otago pinot gris is also a winner and local Rieslings are tempting. It's easy to enjoy New Zealand wine. You'll find it reasonably priced at supermarkets all over the country, and in bars and restaurants. Most wineries are open to the public for tastings. Many have ambient cafes, restaurants and gardens. Some offer on-site accommodation. They make great venues for all sorts of gatherings from romantic meals for two through to special events. Guided wine tours are another option for those wanting an informative introduction to what's on offer. Wine aficionados can arrange their travels to take in a variety of New Zealand's wine growing regions. Look for the increasing number of organic wineries scattered across the country. Give in to temptation and sample some of New Zealand's finest - all in the name of cultural research, of course! As Kiwis say when they raise their glasses 'cheers'.
