Top 100 wines of North Island - Page 4
Discover the top 100 best wines of North Island as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of North Island and the best vintages to taste in this region.
New-zealand/north-island/northland">Northland, as its name suggests, is New Zealand's northernmost wine-producing region, around four hours' drive northwest of the country's largest city, Auckland. Most of the Northland region's wineries are situated on the east coast, particularly around the Bay of Islands and the Karikari Pensinula, with another cluster on the west coast near Kaitaia.
The region's red wines are mostly produced from Syrah, Pinotage">Pinotage and the Hybrid variety Chambourcin. Chardonnay leads the way for white wine grape varieties; Pinot Gris, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc are among the other varieties cultivated here.
Although Northland's contribution to the New Zealand wine industry is minuscule (in 2013, the region crushed 130 metric tonnes of grapes, compared to Marlborough's 250,000), it is important historically. The first vines were planted in the Bay of Islands in 1819, a Full 30 years before missionaries began planting in the Hawkes Bay. The founding father of viticulture in the Antipodes, James Busby, had a Vineyard at his house at Waitangi before going on to establish the Hunter Valley wine region in Australia. This Waitangi property is also where New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed in 1840.
In the late 1800s, kauri-gum diggers from Croatia began to move into the area in search of fortune, bringing winemaking traditions from their homeland. While viticulture in the region has never been viable on a large scale, Northland's boutique wine industry is growing fast, with the Northland Wine Growers Association (formed in 2007) boasting a membership of more than 50.
Northland's sub-tropical Climate is unique in New Zealand. Warm, humid summers and rainy winters are challenging for growers, who must employ careful vineyard techniques to avoid mildew and rot.
Originally from Italy, it is the famous Sangiovese of Tuscany producing the famous wines of Brunello de Montalcino and Chianti. This variety is registered in the Official Catalogue of Wine Grape Varieties, list A1. According to recent genetic analysis, it is the result of a natural cross between the almost unknown Calabrese di Montenuovo (mother) and Ciliegiolo (father).
wines from the region of North Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, spicy food or mushrooms such as recipes of stuffed peppers, risotto milanese or endives with ham (improved).
On the nose in the region of North Island often reveals types of flavors of cherry, tree fruit or cranberry and sometimes also flavors of dark chocolate, jam or coffee. In the mouth in the region of North Island is a powerful with a nice freshness.