WAIPARA, SOUTH ISLAND

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the picturesque hamlet of Waipara, one hour north of Christchurch in the South Island, represents just three per cent of New Zealand’s vineyard area yet is seen as one of the country’s hidden gems. Riesling and Pinot Noir are the most intriguing and best reputed varieties; many consider Waipara the flagship region in the country for Riesling. The area experiences hot, dry north westerly winds buffeting vineyards in summer and autumn, with shelter from sea breezes by the Teviotdale hills which nicely elevates heat in summer. Long, dry autumns and cool nights provide conditions to promote longer hang time for berries, delivering wines with greater elegance and concentration.

Soils are clay loams over rich limestone which are relatively free draining and ideally suited to Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Vineyards are draped over flat to gently sloping terrain in diverse soils ranging from lighter gravels south of the Waipara River to clay and limestone to the north.

The region has been transformed in the last ten years with dramatic vineyard investment. Today it is the fastest growing wine region in New Zealand. Plantings have doubled in the past two years in recognition of the area’s potential, particularly in Riesling and Pinot Noir. Large and small wineries are blossoming with 25 tightly clustered wineries and 60 growers present today.

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NELSON, SOUTH ISLAND

Nelson, on the fringe of the heritage-listed Abel Tasman National Park is the sunshine capital of New Zealand. An area of idyllic beaches, artists, artisans and stylish wines, it is our seventh largest wine region with 29 producers. The region is unusually sited on the western side of the country near the northern tip of the South Island. Mountains to the west provide a rain shadow effect while coastline helps moderate temperature extremes. Viticulture is in scattered pockets, notably in two areas – in the Waimea Plains which boast a range of horticultural activities on alluvial loam soils, and in the folds and valleys of the Moutere hills. Soil here changes to clay loams over hard clay subsoil, giving a structure and a textured minerality to wines.

Winemakers specialise in grape varieties that respond to cooler growing conditions. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir account for 80 per cent of the region’s vineyard area. The area is increasingly being recognised for its distinctive style of Sauvignon Blanc, which delivers an exuberant fruit expression, yet in a more mellow style than Marlborough versions, making a weightier wine and top food match.

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HAWKES BAY, NORTH ISLAND

Hawkes Bay is a wine and gastronomic haven. It is known as the fruit bowl of New Zealand, courtesy of its vast wealth of produce grown in a benevolent climate. Our second largest wine region, it has more than 50 wineries and a 100 year heritage in wine.
The region has an immensely varied topography and more than 22 categories of soil types, ranging from fertile silty loams to free draining shingle spanning a wide geographic canvas and producing a range of wine styles. Ripening dates for a single grape variety can vary by as much as four weeks between the hot, shingle soils of the Gimblett Road area to the cool, higher altitude vineyards of central Hawkes Bay.

While Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape variety, long sunshine hours attract a high percentage of later-ripening and now award-winning red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Increasingly, the early-ripening Pinot Noir is receiving accolades for wines made in the cooler, high altitude areas, south of the Bay.

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MARTINBOROUGH, NORTH ISLAND

In the south eastern corner of New Zealand’s North Island, the Wairarapa and, most particularly, the town of Martinborough, is the most sought after weekend getaway for Wellingtonians. The town is named after an Irishman, John Martin, who farmed the largest station in the area at a time when agriculture was the backbone of this small community. Today it is an enclave of 49 close-knit wineries known for their exotic style Rieslings and richly weighted Pinot Noirs. Pinot Noir is the region’s most planted and acclaimed grape variety and its success has driven rapid development of this quality-focused region.

The region’s average vineyard size of a little over four hectares is less than half the national average, yet as a prime area of investment, a number of larger wineries and vineyards are now under development, showing great confidence in the region’s suitability for specific grape varieties.

Martinborough has three distinct soil types – most vineyard sites are planted on alluvial river terraces, while the hills surrounding the township are made up of older clay loams. Predominant grape varieties grown are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Gris.

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