New Zealand is new when it comes to winemaking, but that did not stop them from producing some of the best wines. Multiple experts such as Robert Parker and wine review site Wine Spectator rated New Zealand wines as one of the world’s finest. The next time you travel there, you might want to try wine tasting in a wide variety of wine regions in New Zealand, from the award-winning Pinot Noir from Central Otago, the delightful Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, or even the prestigious Larose blend from Stonyridge Estate of Waiheke Island. You could even do so through bike rides as there are bike renting services that provide guides on wine-tasting and even includes great restaurants you could go for lunch.
The New Zealand wine industry grew very fast, with over 10 major wine producing wine regions recognized, and plenty of celebrities and entrepreneurs starting up new vineyards. Despite this, the demand for New Zealand wine still exceeds its supply. That’s saying something about its quality. If you ever come by New Zealand, here are four regions you might want to check out for a little [or a lot] of sip.
Northland
The hottest wine growing region of New Zealand, this subtropical region produces different heat-loving grape wine varieties, including whites such as tropical Chardonnays and vibrant Viogniers, and reds such as Syrahs with spicy notes and Cabernet-Merlot blends.
You could pair the wines from this region with the wide variety of fresh produce available, from berries to pineapples. Chocolates, cheeses, oysters, and fine olive oil are also widely available. You could also try fish and chips in the town of Mangonui, where you can watch them cook the fish for you.
Marlborough
The best wine producing region of New Zealand, Marlborough’s Sauvignon Blanc is in charge of putting New Zealand on top of the international wine industry. Its vivid fruit notes and herbaceous flavors put it among the top wine region of this variety. They say that the purity and flavor of Marlborough wine cannot be matched from anywhere in the world.
You could try Marlborough wines with its other specialty, green-lipped mussels. You could try their freshest mussels along with their wines on your journey there.
Auckland
Auckland wine can be described as rich and smooth, from their Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, to their fruity Chardonnays and Pinot Gris. Many of their wineries offer wine tasting to visitors, with some, such as Soljans Wines even offering in-house restaurant dining.
Plenty of restaurants are scattered across the region, giving you plenty of choices in pairing your wine. There are also food and wine tours available, where they arrange the wine and food tasting experience for you.
Central Otago
Considered to be one of the major wine-producing region in New Zealand, Otago wines rivals that of other countries. Their award winning Pinot Noirs is considered to be some of the world’s best, while their white wine varieties are also quite impressive.
Pair Otago’s Pinot Noirs with fine New Zealand lamb with plenty of restaurant options, or pack your backpack with cheese, fruits, and the finest wine you could buy and take it hills under the great blue sky.
If you want to try some of these things, but you don’t want the hassle of travelling to and from, you could order any New Zealand wines, as well as some international selections, from Pinot Noirs to Riesling from Advintage, New Zealand’s largest wine retailer.
