New Zealand wine regions produce fan favorites at affordable prices. From rich Pinot Noir to crisp Chardonnay, numerous vineyards throughout New Zealand are home to potential best-sellers for your bar or restaurant business. Whether you’re interested in red, white, or rosé wine varietals, New Zealand has it all. But which regions are the best for wine? We’ll cover six options in a bit. But first, let’s go over what makes New Zealand a stand-out country in the wine market.
The Qualities of New Zealand Wine Regions That Set Them Apart
Stumbling across this article might have led you to discover that New Zealand wine regions are some of the best worldwide. While you might assume that they must be similar to Australian wine regions, they’re quite different. After all, both countries share many distinctions despite their many similarities. Plus, you can’t ignore the fact that thousands of miles separate them.
Review the list below to discover the key qualities of New Zealand wine regions:
- New Zealand is home to innovative viticulture, which enables winemakers to leverage sustainable practices for high-quality products. Plus, such efforts make New Zealand wines trustworthy for eco-friendly restaurants.
- With cool climates in various regions, New Zealand produces and exports crisp whites and bright reds, both of which have optimal freshness and acidity.
- Despite New Zealand being a fairly small country, it covers a number of different terroirs. The variety of altitudes, soils, and microclimates lead to region-specific wines, as opposed to varietals generalized across the entire country.
- Due to geographical isolation, New Zealand wine regions are able to differentiate themselves from others across the globe, varying in flavor, dryness, acidity, and aromas.
- As the birthplace of many boutique wineries and vineyards, you can get wines at premium prices in New Zealand. Then, when you properly price wine by the glass, your business can make a hefty profit in no time.
The New Zealand wine regions seem pretty impressive, right? Now it’s time to learn about the best one individually. Continue on to the next section to discover the New Zealand wine regions that should be on your radar.
6 Most Notable New Zealand Wine Regions
New Zealand is a fairly small country. To put things in perspective for those unfamiliar with it, New Zealand is just a bit smaller than Italy. And despite the limited land mass compared to other nations, there are almost as many wine hubs in New Zealand as there are prominent Italian wine regions. Keep reading to learn more about six of the best wine regions throughout New Zealand.
1. Marlborough
Most Known For: Sauvignon Blanc
As New Zealand’s largest and most famous wine region, Marlborough is highly recognized for its Sauvignon Blanc. Its cool climate and lengthy growing season allow winemakers to produce bright white wines, as well as well-balanced red wines. With this being said, the region is also renowned for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
2. Central Otago
Most Known For: Pinot Noir
As the world’s southernmost wine region, Central Otago is famous for its Pinot Noir. The region’s frigid winters and sweltering summers lead to the creation of wines with intense flavors, with each batch exuding immense complexity. The region is known for Pinot Noir more than all the other red wine types. Central Otago’s Pinot Noir is often described as silky, fruit-forward, and elegant.
3. Hawke’s Bay
Most Known For: Bordeaux-style reds and Syrah
Like the prestigious French wine regions, Hawke’s Bay has the proper environmental factors to not only produce, but specialize in Bordeaux-style wines. The combination of the region’s terroirs and coastal influences allows for diverse colors, flavor profiles, and acidity levels across wines produced from nearby vineyards.
4. Martinborough
Most Known For: Premium Pinot Noir
As a boutique New Zealand wine region, Martinborough is known specifically for its high-quality Pinot Noir. Thanks to the region’s cool and dry climate, this varietal thrives here–from the time in which its grapes are grown, all the way to the time in which wine is barreled, aged, and bottled. It’s worth noting that Martinborough’s “stony” soils produce complex reds with intense fruit flavors and earthy notes.
5. Waipara Valley
Most Known For: Pinot Noir and Riesling
As a cooler subregion near Canterbury, Waipara Valley has been gaining well-deserved recognition recently for its Riesling and Pinot Noir wines. While these two wine varieties differ quite a bit, that should come as no surprise in Waipara Valley. The region’s varied soil types, unique terroirs, and climates result in diverse wines, all of which have some sense of balance and freshness.
6. Auckland/Waiheke Island
Most Known For: Bordeaux-style reds and Merlot
Auckland’s proximity to the ocean helps to establish a mild climate, which is ideal for numerous grape varieties. However, Waiheke Island is especially known for its selection of reds, like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The region’s climate closely resembles that of Mediterranean regions in Europe. As a result, its wines are similar to those of French, Italian, and Spanish wine regions.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Zealand Wine Regions
Despite covering a brief rundown on several of New Zealand’s best wine regions, there is still so much more to learn. You’ll find a selection of commonly asked questions and answers below. Take a look for additional insight on the topic at hand.
What Are the Best New Zealand Wine Regions?
The six best New Zealand wine regions are as follows:
- Marlborough
- Central Otago
- Hawke’s Bay
- Martinborough
- Waipara Valley
- Auckland/Waiheke Island
What’s the Most Popular Wine Region In New Zealand?
Marlborough is New Zealand’s most popular wine region by a long shot. It’s worth noting that Marlborough is especially known for its Sauvignon Blanc, which is a fan favorite worldwide. Therefore, wholesale wine producers and wineries throughout the regions attract many happy customers.
What’s the Biggest Wine Region In New Zealand?
Marlborough is the largest New Zealand wine region for both its production volume and area coverage. Its land mass is so large that it covers various subregions like the Awatere Valley and the Wairau Valley. And with multiple subregions comes multiple microclimates. Therefore, a region like Marlborough can easily produce a vast selection of grape varieties, hence nearby winemakers being enabled to deliver a massive selection of wines to the beverage market.
Which Types of Wine Is New Zealand Known For?
New Zealand is well-known for its variety of red and white wines. The red wines that New Zealand is most sought-after for include Pinot Noir and Syrah. Meanwhile, the country’s most notable white wines include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Are New Zealand Wines Affordable?
Just like any other country that mass produces wine, the price range in New Zealand can drastically vary–not just from vineyard to vineyard, but among individual growers! While you can source wines from New Zealand that fall within low to moderate price categories, you can also find a plethora of high-end wines throughout New Zealand.
BinWise Makes It Easier to Source Reds and Whites From the Top New Zealand Wine Regions
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