New Zealand is a small producer that punches well above its weight in terms of its international profile. It’s best known for sauvignon blanc (particularly from the Marlborough region), which burst onto international markets in the 1990s. Sauvignon blanc still sells strongly and accounts for three-quarters of the country’s wine exports. Although Marlborough “savvy” continues to be the main thrust of production and exports, other regions and grape varieties are making steady progress. 

New Zealand pinot noir has gained a lot of attention, especially pinot from Central Otago, the world’s most-southerly wine region, and from Martinborough, in the North Island. Merlot is an up-and-coming variety in the Hawke’s Bay region on the east coast of the North Island (especially in the Gimblett Gravels sub-region), while Gisborne, a little further north, is developing a reputation for chardonnay and pinot grigio. Bordeaux-style reds are produced around Auckland, especially on Waiheke Island.

As this suggests, New Zealand’s wineries are sorting out regions and grape varieties. Although most regions are climatically varied enough to support a range of varieties, there’s now a stress on regionality. This is the main direction of change, shown by the delineation of various sub-regions within Marlborough.

The New Zealand wine industry is stressing sustainable practices more than most. It has to counter the "buy local" argument that shipping wine around the world has an adverse environmental impact. Drawing on New Zealand’s image as a clean, green country, the industry stresses that sustainable and low-impact practices in the vineyard and winery can outweigh the effects of long-distance transportation.

Prominent Wine Regions in New Zealand

Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago.

Varietals/Styles on the Rise in New Zealand

Pinot noir, merlot, pinot grigio.

Classic Wine Producers in New Zealand

Cloudy Bay: A Marlborough winery that produced New Zealand’s first international sauvignon star and continues to make notable wines, especially the oak-aged sauvignon, Te Koko.

Brancott Estate (formerly Montana): New Zealand’s largest wine company has vineyards in several regions and produces wines at all tiers, from entry level to single-vineyard.

Matua Valley: Based north of Auckland, it was the first to plant sauvignon blanc in New Zealand and now makes high-quality wines from grapes grown in several regions.

Up-and-Coming Wine Producers in New Zealand

Seresin: This Marlborough winery is making waves with its stylish and complex sauvignons.

Craggy Range: Located in Hawke’s Bay, this winery is gaining a reputation for its Bordeaux blends and syrahs.

Mt. Difficulty: An impressive Central Otago winery that’s producing fine single-vineyard pinot noir.

Check out more than 400 reviews of wines from New Zealand.

(47 entries, 23 medals)

The number of entries was slightly lower in 2010, but a 50-percent medal ratio indicates the general success of and judges’ enthusiasm for the pinot gris grape in Canada. There were comments that Canada is making both the leaner Italian pinot grigio style and the riper, richer Alsatian style — and how this might create confusion. But most judges feel Canada is finding a style between the two, if edging, as Bill Zacharkiw suggested, “closer to the Alsatian model,” based largely on the riper pinot gris of the Okanagan’s warmer climate. “There is clean varietal expression and they are friendly to the novice and experienced pinot gris drinker,” said Tom Firth. A judiciously oaked version from Inniskillin walked off with the only gold in the group.

Gold

Inniskillin 2009 Winemaker’s Series Barrel Aged Pinot Gris, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $20

Silver

Peller Estates Okanagan 2009 Private Reserve Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $17

Lake Breeze 2009 Pinot Gris, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $18

Gray Monk 2009 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $17

Calamus 2009 Pinot Gris, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $16

CedarCreek 2009 Pinot Gris, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $18

Inniskillin 2009 Pinot Grigio, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $13

Sandhill 2009 King Family Vineyard Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

Church & State 2009 Pinot Gris, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Burrowing Owl 2009 Pinot Gris, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Bronze

Blasted Church 2009 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Peller Estates Niagara-on-the-Lake 2009 Private Reserve Pinot Gris, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $19

Fielding Estate 2009 Rock Pile Pinot Gris, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $26

See YA Later Ranch 2009 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Thornhaven Estates 2009 Pinot Gris, Summerland, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $18

Huff Estates 2009 Pinot Gris, Ontario     $20

Mission Hill 2009 Five Vineyards Pinot Grigio, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $16

Hillside 2009 Un-oaked Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

Red Rooster Winery 2009 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $17

Poplar Grove 2008 Pinot Gris, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Wild Goose Vineyards 2009 Mystic River Pinot Gris, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

Mount Lehman 2009 Pinot Gris, Fraser Valley, British Columbia     $20

Van Westen Vineyards 2009 Vino Grigio, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

See more results from the Wine Access 2010 Canadian Wine Awards

Alsace and Italy seem to get all the pinot gris/pinot grigio attention, but it’s New Zealand and British Columbia that over-delivered in the competition. In Alsace, pinot gris is the dinner white, with skin tannins and body capable of standing up to meat and cheese. Italian pinot grigio is generally the minerally, lean white to drink with seafood.

In B.C. and New Zealand, the cool climate is used to restrain flavour and power in fruit and add finesse. If there is any commonality between the styles it is the varietal character, which usually evokes pear, but sometimes peach or ripe apple, with a dash of honey. (Craig Pinhey)

Category Champion

90 Spy Valley 2009 Pinot Gris Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

Judges' Choice

88 Pentâge Winery 2009 Pinot Gris, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada $17-$19

88 Mission Hill 2009 Five Vineyards Pinot Grigio, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada $16-$19

87 CedarCreek 2009 Pinot Gris, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada $18-$23

87 20 Bees 2009 Pinot Grigio, Ontario, Canada $11-$13

87 Peller Estates Okanagan 2009 Peller Family Series Pinot Gris, British Columbia, Canada $12-$14

87 Arrowleaf 2009 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada $15-$17

More results from the Wine Access 2010 International Value Wine Awards