New Zealand
Maritime
The world's southernmost major wine country: cool, maritime and famous for zesty Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
Overview
About New Zealand
New Zealand's vineyards run down the length of two long, narrow islands, from Northland in the warm north to Central Otago at around 45°S. Sauvignon Blanc dominates plantings and exports, followed by Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, and the country is a leader in screwcap use and in sustainable-winegrowing certification.
The main regions are Marlborough, Hawke's Bay (known for Bordeaux blends and Syrah from the Gimblett Gravels), Central Otago, Martinborough and Canterbury.
Where is a grape grown?
Hover a marker to see what's grown there, and click it to open that place. On a touch screen, tap once to preview and again to open. Bigger markers have more grapes linked to them.
New Zealand
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Maritime
Maritime, sunny and cool, with high UV levels and cool nights. The Southern Alps cast a rain shadow over the eastern vineyards.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Young and varied soils: river gravels, alluvial silts, greywacke, schist and clay.
Go deeper
How the wines are classified
New Zealand's wine regions are registered geographical indications, and the country has no official quality ranking.
Geographical Indications
Registered regions such as Marlborough, Hawke's Bay and Central Otago.
The 85% rule
A wine must contain at least 85% of the stated region, grape and vintage.
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
A widely used industry certification for sustainable practices. It is not a quality tier.
Within New Zealand
Regions
Central Otago
The world's southernmost wine region, a high, dry, continental basin of schist where Pinot Noir is the star.
Marlborough
The top of the South Island and New Zealand's largest wine region, whose pungent Sauvignon Blanc redefined the grape in the 1980s.
Nelson
A sunny, sheltered corner at the top of the South Island, with small family wineries making aromatic whites, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Waipara Valley
A sheltered valley north of Christchurch, known for aromatic Riesling and Pinot Noir from limestone hills and stony river terraces.
What's grown here
Grapes
Grapes linked to New Zealand or to a place within it. Each grape's page links back here.