We travel the 20,000 kilometers that separate us from our antipodes and we enter New Zealand. On our journey through the elongated geography of this curious country, which extends over two main islands for 1,200 kilometers, we visited its 11 wine regions, famous for producing some of the most famous sauvignon blanc in the world.
With an area of only about 22,000 hectares of vineyards and an annual production of 133 million liters, New Zealand has become one of the world’s leading wine producers in the last 30 years. The cultivation of mainly French varieties, such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for whites or Pinot Noir, which has dethroned Cabernet Sauvignon for reds, together with its climate, make the wines of this area excellent examples of elegance and aromatic concentration.
New Zealand is a range of climates, and although it is located by temperature in region I, next to Bordeaux and Burgundy, we find a north-south slope that varies from humid and almost subtropical climate in the north, to continental influence in the extreme south. Its wine production extends from the north to the south island in equal measure, with Marlborough, at the northern end of the south island, being the most prestigious wine region, where some of the best sauvignon blanc in the world is produced.
Lively and fruity wines , with great acidity and concentration of aromas, made mainly from Burgundian and Bordeaux varieties. On our journey through the different DOs in the area, on the north island we will stop at Hawke’s Bayon the east coast, where more than 20% of New Zealand’s grapes are produced and which is considered the best wine-growing area for the cultivation of Bordeaux and Bordeaux grape varieties. WairarapaThe region, a little further south of the island, has managed to position itself as the region of pinot noir wines of great international fame with its sparsely spread vineyards.
As for the South Island, we already highlighted
Marlborough
In the far north, the country’s largest producing region with nearly 50% of the vineyard surface area, the region’s climate makes it particularly suitable for growing white grapes such as Müller-Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling. In addition, we highlight
Canterbury
where the low rainfall and long warm autumns make it a favorable region for growing chardonnay and riesling.
Finally, the Central Otago Region
Central Otago Region
. Located in the south of the South Island, its vineyards are probably the most impressive in the world. Its natural maritime landscape presents all the extremes in temperature and latitude (45º). Stimulated by tourism, and in spite of the apparently unfavorable conditions, it has the largest growth of vineyards in the country, due to the cultivation of Chardonnay, which in these regions produces wines with citrus and melon aromas, as well as Pinot Noir with its varietal character.
