Top 100 wines of South Island
Discover the top 100 best wines of South Island as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of South Island and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of South Island
New Zealand's southern island, cradle of the country's great wines. Sauvignon Blanc signature in Marlborough (~80% of national vineyard): explosive and tropical with grapefruit, passion fruit, boxwood, cut grass and mineral touch — global benchmark. Pinot Noir star in Central Otago (among the most southerly) and Waipara: airy with cherry, raspberry, undergrowth, thyme. Taut Riesling, precise Chardonnay, floral Pinot Gris.
Aromatic, chiselled style.
Discover the grape variety: Chardonnay
Whites with many faces: mineral and taut at Chablis (lemon, green apple, flint), opulent and buttery at Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet (hazelnut, brioche, yellow fruits), tense and chalky in Champagne (Blanc de Blancs). Also vinified sparkling and widely exported (Sonoma, Margaret River, Casablanca). A Burgundian variety, a cross of Pinot Noir × Gouais Blanc, half-sibling of Aligoté.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of South Island
wines from the region of South Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, vegetarian or goat cheese such as recipes of mussels spanish style, salmon and goat cheese quiche or spinach pasta with garlic goat cream au gratin.
Top wines in regions and sub-regions of South Island
The best wines of South Island in other styles
- The best wines natural sweet of South Island in other styles
- The best wines pink of South Island in other styles
- The best wines red of South Island in other styles
- The best wines sparkling of South Island in other styles
- The best wines sweet of South Island in other styles
- The best wines white of South Island in other styles