best red wine in nz
New Zealand is a fascinating place for all kinds of reasons, but wine is the defining factor that brings in tourists from across the globe. As a people, Kiwis are ambitious and self-effacing. This handy combination defines their winemakers to a tee. Though 85% of their wine production revolves around one single grape (sauvignon blanc) and though this grape gave New Zealand its global foothold, much of it is lackluster juice. Pinot noir, rather, will cement the region’s place among the world’s great winemaking countries, and as you’ll see in this list, it’s what excites me the most. New Zealand’s pinot noir wines are coming of age right now. Winemakers have refined their techniques, and new ideas are starting to build with convincing groundswell. Vine age is their ultimate trump card, and this is just kicking in at a critical mass. In fact, vine age is adding to the quality across many wine styles, and producers who’ve been in the game longer and stuck at it are reaping the rewards.
This means that pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah, cabernet and merlot-based reds, riesling and even sauvignon blanc are all reaching greater heights of quality than previously seen. The Top 10 wines this year are dominated by pinot noir, and the pick of them is the 2013 Bell Hill Pinot Noir from Waikari, my New Zealand Wine of the Year for 2016. A layered, concentrated and profound expression from Sherwyn Veldhuizen and Marcel Giesen’s tiny close-planted vineyard has so much to say. Coming in at No. 2 is a rare New Zealand syrah that reaches the very pinnacle of quality. The 2014 Trinity Hill Homage is an essay in complex, cooler-climate syrah with seamless structure and deeply compelling character. It has a bright future for those that get some in the cellar. In fact, all of these wines, and the wines of New Zealand, have a bright future. They are defined by exceptional quality and consistency, and in the coming years, New Zealand’s best producers are only going to get better.
Te Mata Estate Hawke's Bay Coleraine Te Mata Estate Syrah Hawke's Bay Bullnose Kumeu River Chardonnay Kumeu Hunting Hill Kumeu River Chardonnay Kumeu Mate's Vineyard Rippon Pinot Noir Central Otago Tinker's Field Giesen Pinot Noir Marlborough SVS Clayvin
glass of wine driving Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough Crimson
best wine deals on amazon Dog Point Pinot Noir Marlborough
best red wine in 2010 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Martinborough Aroha
best wine and beverage center Bell Hill Chardonnay Waikari Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough McCrone Vineyard Craggy Range Syrah Hawke's Bay Le Sol Tony Bish Chardonnay Hawke's Bay Skeetfield Vineyard
Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough Kiwa Mammoth Sauvignon Blanc Nelson Rare White Neudorf Chardonnay Nelson Moutere Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Central Otago Two Paddocks Pinot Noir Central Otago The Fusilier Two Paddocks Pinot Noir Central Otago Last Chance Quartz Reef Pinot Noir Central Otago Bendigo Estate Matua Valley Syrah Hawke's Bay Single Vineyard Matheson Craggy Range Hawke's Bay Sophia Villa Maria Hawke's Bay Ngakirikiri Kumeu River Chardonnay Kumeu Coddington Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Name Me Kevin Judd Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Greywacke Wild Kevin Judd Pinot Noir Marlborough Greywacke Te Whare Ra Riesling Marlborough M Dog Point Chardonnay Marlborough Greenhough Sauvignon Blanc Nelson Hope Vineyard Mahana Sauvignon Blanc Nelson Clays & Gravels Greenhough Pinot Noir Nelson Hope Vineyard Tongue In Groove Pinot Noir North Canterbury Cabal Vineyard Bell Hill Pinot Noir Waikari Old Weka Pass Road
Valli Pinot Noir Central Otago Bannockburn Vineyard Valli Pinot Noir Central Otago Burn Cottage Vineyard Valli Pinot Noir Central Otago Bendigo Vineyard Felton Road Chardonnay Central Otago Bannockborn Kumeu River Chardonnay Kumeu Estate Folium Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ReserveNew Zealand Red WineA wonderful country. I spent a year in New Zealand and toured both north and south islands. Wine making is a relatively new venture in the land of the long white cloud. There were virtually no grapes planted on south island until the 1970s! And already cool climate Marlborough has given the world a completely new style of wine with it's sensational sauvignon blanc. Love it or hate it, there's no other wine in the world like it. The cooler climate of the south island is also ideal for pinot noir and they make some stunning examples. As all the vineyards are virtually new, it's the pioneering spirit of couples and families that has been the back bone of New Zealand wine, while the rest of the world was being dominated by corporate brands.
If you want a truly oustanding wine go for one that is family owned. The ones I'm recommending are superb.The New Zealand wine industry has flourished and the number of wineries has virtually doubled in the last ten years from 600 or so to well over 1000, with the emergence of many boutique wineries. Anybody who has travelled to New Zealand knows that they are blessed with vast tracts of fertile land and usually great weather too, producing an abundance of fresh produce. They have a very healthy diet and lifestyle, and this passion for quality natural produce has influenced their winemaking. Steer clear of the mass produced brands, and particularly all the UK bottled "own label" Sauvignon Blanc that has flooded the UK since the credit crunch, and you will discover that there are many boutique wineries producing outstanding quality wines with minimal additives and manipulation.The Gimblett Gravels area of Hawke's Bay has become world famous for quality reds, particularly Bordeaux varietals (such as Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec), and Syrah too.