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An Introduction to New Zealand Wines
Less than 1% of the wine in the world comes from New Zealand but do not let that figure influence your opinion of New Zealand wines. After all, New Zealand is a comparatively small country and it is also fairly new to wine trading and export. The maritime climate and temperatures of New Zealand help to make the wines great.
The first wine to put New Zealand on the map as far as wine is concerned was Sauvignon Blanc, although today the country makes a variety of different wines. The expansive coastline allows for a variety of wine styles to be successful and that includes the ones from the cooler climates in the north, like Syrah and Bordeaux blends and the ones from the warmer south like Riesling and Pinot Noir.
A Closer Look at Famous Wines from New Zealand
The famous New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has passion fruit, bell pepper, and gooseberry flavors. Most Sauvignon Blanc comes from New Zealand's Marlborough area. Sauvignon Blanc from the north of the country has ripe and tropical flavors but the more southern ones have a lighter, crisper finish. This wine is usually cold-fermented in stainless steel because this keeps the sharp zing alive.
New Zealand Riesling might be sweet and luscious or it might be steely and dry. Most of them tend to be off-dry with lime and citrus flavors. Young Rieslings often have lemon, citrus, apple, and tropical fruit flavors too. Most Riesling in New Zealand comes from the south. You will notice hints of pear, spice, bread, honeysuckle, and apple in New Zealand Pinot Gris. The southern wines are well structured and the ones from the north are oily and rich.
The Chardonnay has tropical and citrus flavors and offers quite a mineral taste. Chardonnay from the south of New Zealand is light or medium-bodied with fresher flavors and more acidity than the medium or full-bodied northern varieties. New Zealand Gewurztraminer has cinnamon, ginger, rose, and lychee aromas and flavors, although the southern ones are more aromatic than the northern ones.
The Syrah has spicy flavors, as well as black pepper, plum, and violet ones. Sometimes New Zealand winemakers combine Syrah with Viognier to make a more aromatic wine. Pinot Noir from New Zealand is elegant and rich in tannins. The intense fruit flavors are delicious and there are regional styles of Pinot Noir. Some have clear spice and black pepper flavors but others are fruitier with a hint of herbs.
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blends are a great choice if you want to serve a bold red wine with your grilled steak. These fruity wines are well structured with a rich finish. Most have chocolate, plum and blackcurrant flavors, although some of the ones made in the warmer north of the country are lighter in flavor and color.
Sparkling New Zealand Wines
Sparkling New Zealand wines are popular all over the world for their elegant flavor. This type of wine features biscuit and nut aromas and a complex fruity finish. Sparkling wines in New Zealand are made using grapes from France's Champagne region as well as traditional Champagne-making techniques.
If you are looking for a budget alternative to French Champagne, try a sparkling New Zealand wine. Because sparkling wine from the north of the island has a good structure and an elegant flavor and sparkling wine from the south is richer and fuller-bodied, they are often blended. As a result, you will get both structure and richness in every sip.
