The best wines of New Zealand

Discover the best wines of New Zealand as well as the best winemakers of New Zealand and estates of New Zealand to visit. Explore the popular grape varieties in New Zealand and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Top wines by regions > New Zealand

Top wines of New Zealand by region

Looking for a good wine of New Zealand among the top wines in the region? Check out our tops of the best red, white or effervescent wines of New Zealand. Also find some food and wine pairings that may be appropriate with these exceptional wines. Learn more about the region and the wines of New Zealand with technical and enological descriptions.

Great red wines of New Zealand

See the top 100 best red wines of New Zealand

Want to buy a red wine of New Zealand cheap or sell a red wine of New Zealand at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a red wine of New Zealand

Red wines from the region of New Zealand go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, pasta or veal such as recipes of bolognese tart, lasagne al forno (italian recipe) or adapted vietnamese fondue.

Organoleptic analysis of red wine of New Zealand

On the nose the red wine of the region of New Zealand. often reveals types of flavors of cherry, savory or tropical fruit and sometimes also flavors of ripe blackberries, baking spice or cigar box. In the mouth the red wine of the region of New Zealand. is a powerful with a nice freshness.

The best vintages in red wine of New Zealand

  • 1996 With an average score of 4.71/5
  • 1998 With an average score of 4.65/5
  • 1995 With an average score of 4.61/5
  • 1997 With an average score of 4.58/5
  • 2000 With an average score of 4.51/5
  • 2005 With an average score of 4.48/5

The most used grape varieties in red wine of New Zealand

  • Pinot Noir
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Malbec
  • Petit Verdot

The best wineries and winemakers for red wine of New Zealand

A wine route planned in the region of New Zealand? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best red wine of New Zealand.

Discovering the wine region of New Zealand

New Zealand is an isolated island nation in the Pacific Ocean, about a thousand kilometres Southeast of Australia. It Lies between latitudes 36°S and 45°S, making it the southernmost wine producing country in the world. New Zealand has ten major wine-producing regions spread between the North and South Islands, the most important of which is Marlborough. New Zealand produces a wide variety of wines, the best known of which are the zesty, grassy whites made from Marlborough Grape/sauvignon">Sauvignon blanc.

Pinot noir has also proven to be well suited to New Zealand's Terroir and has made a name for itself in Martinborough, Marlborough and especially Central Otago, where the wines can be described as Dense and muscular with strong black fruit Flavours. The Aromatic Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer varieties have found their way into the cooler regions of the South Island, and the Syrah, Bordeaux Blend varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) do well in the warmer regions of the North Island. The first vines arrived in Northland in 1819 and were planted by the father of antipodean viticulture, James Busby (who went on to establish the Hunter Valley region of Australia). Missionaries brought vines to Hawkes Bay in the 1850s, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Dalmatian gum-digging settlers planted vines throughout Auckland and Northland, laying the foundation for New Zealand's modern wine industry.

For much of the 20th century, the country's vineyards were mainly confined to the east coast of the North Island, and most wines were produced solely for local consumption. It wasn't until the 1970s that wine-growing areas began to expand and New Zealand wines began to be exported. In 1973, Auckland-based wine producer Montana (now Brancott Estate) bought land in Marlborough's Wairau Valley. After some problems with poorly chosen grape varieties and the scourge of phylloxera, Marlborough sauvignon blanc took off in the 1980s and 1990s, producing a style of wine praised for its earliness and grassy, sweaty character.

Great white wines of New Zealand

See the top 100 best white wines of New Zealand

Want to buy a white wine of New Zealand cheap or sell a white wine of New Zealand at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a white wine of New Zealand

White wines from the region of New Zealand go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, vegetarian or goat cheese such as recipes of arroz de marisco, quiche with bacon and gruyère cheese or romanesco cabbage and tomato gratin.

Organoleptic analysis of white wine of New Zealand

On the nose the white wine of the region of New Zealand. often reveals types of flavors of pineapple, floral or lemon zest and sometimes also flavors of straw, savory or guava. In the mouth the white wine of the region of New Zealand. is a with a nice freshness.

The best vintages in white wine of New Zealand

  • 2008 With an average score of 4.50/5
  • 2001 With an average score of 4.50/5
  • 2019 With an average score of 4.37/5
  • 2018 With an average score of 4.35/5
  • 2011 With an average score of 4.32/5
  • 2009 With an average score of 4.30/5

The most used grape varieties in white wine of New Zealand

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay

The best wineries and winemakers for white wine of New Zealand

A wine route planned in the region of New Zealand? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best white wine of New Zealand.

Discover the grape variety: Riesling

White Riesling is a grape variety that originated in France (Alsace). It produces a variety of grape specially used for the elaboration of wine. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches, and small grapes. White Riesling can be found in many vineyards: Alsace, Loire Valley, Languedoc & Roussillon, Lorraine, Provence & Corsica, Rhone Valley, Savoie & Bugey, Beaujolais, South West.

Great sparkling wines of New Zealand

See the top 100 best sparkling wines of New Zealand

Want to buy a sparkling wine of New Zealand cheap or sell a sparkling wine of New Zealand at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a sparkling wine of New Zealand

Sparkling wines from the region of New Zealand go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of blanquette of veal, rabbit with prunes or conejo al ajillo (spain).

Organoleptic analysis of sparkling wine of New Zealand

On the nose the sparkling wine of the region of New Zealand. often reveals types of flavors of pineapple, biscuits or nutty and sometimes also flavors of honey, lemon zest or straw.

The best vintages in sparkling wine of New Zealand

  • 1999 With an average score of 4.20/5
  • 2019 With an average score of 4.05/5
  • 2017 With an average score of 4.03/5
  • 1991 With an average score of 4.00/5
  • 2011 With an average score of 3.97/5
  • 2018 With an average score of 3.97/5

The most used grape varieties in sparkling wine of New Zealand

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir
  • Pinot Gris
  • Riesling

The best wineries and winemakers for sparkling wine of New Zealand

A wine route planned in the region of New Zealand? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best sparkling wine of New Zealand.

The word of the wine: Roast (taste of)

Characteristic taste of wines made from grapes affected by botrytis cinerea.

Great pink wines of New Zealand

See the top 100 best pink wines of New Zealand

Want to buy a pink wine of New Zealand cheap or sell a pink wine of New Zealand at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a pink wine of New Zealand

Pink wines from the region of New Zealand go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of roast veal with milk and rosemary, pork stew with bacon and cream or duck parmentier.

Organoleptic analysis of pink wine of New Zealand

On the nose the pink wine of the region of New Zealand. often reveals types of flavors of pineapple, tropical fruit or earth and sometimes also flavors of microbio, vegetal or oak.

The best vintages in pink wine of New Zealand

  • 2021 With an average score of 4.30/5
  • 2020 With an average score of 4.24/5
  • 2019 With an average score of 4.17/5
  • 2016 With an average score of 4.15/5
  • 2018 With an average score of 4.12/5
  • 2017 With an average score of 4.10/5

The most used grape varieties in pink wine of New Zealand

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Pinot Noir

The best wineries and winemakers for pink wine of New Zealand

A wine route planned in the region of New Zealand? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best pink wine of New Zealand.

Discover the grape variety: Sauvignon

Sauvignon Gris is a grape variety that originated in France (South-West). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches and small grapes. Sauvignon Gris can be found in many vineyards: South West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Burgundy, Jura, Beaujolais, Armagnac, Provence & Corsica, Rhone Valley, Savoie & Bugey.

Great sweet wines of New Zealand

See the top 100 best sweet wines of New Zealand

Want to buy a sweet wine of New Zealand cheap or sell a sweet wine of New Zealand at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a sweet wine of New Zealand

Sweet wines from the region of New Zealand go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, shellfish or spicy food such as recipes of special' tagliatelle carbonara, small cuttlefish with parsley or white beans with tomato (italy).

Organoleptic analysis of sweet wine of New Zealand

On the nose the sweet wine of the region of New Zealand. often reveals types of flavors of pineapple, butter or tropical fruit and sometimes also flavors of cream, tropical or musk. In the mouth the sweet wine of the region of New Zealand. is a powerful with a good balance between acidity and sweetness.

The best vintages in sweet wine of New Zealand

  • 2020 With an average score of 4.40/5
  • 2007 With an average score of 4.20/5
  • 2005 With an average score of 4.20/5
  • 2012 With an average score of 4.16/5
  • 2018 With an average score of 4.11/5
  • 2009 With an average score of 4.05/5

The most used grape varieties in sweet wine of New Zealand

  • Riesling
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Müller-Thurgau

The best wineries and winemakers for sweet wine of New Zealand

A wine route planned in the region of New Zealand? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best sweet wine of New Zealand.

The word of the wine: Demi-sec

Champagne with between 33 and 50 grams of sugar (see dosage liqueur).

Great natural sweet wines of New Zealand

See the top 100 best natural sweet wines of New Zealand

Want to buy a natural-sweet wine of New Zealand cheap or sell a natural-sweet wine of New Zealand at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a natural-sweet wine of New Zealand

Natural sweet wines from the region of New Zealand go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or pork such as recipes of bolognese tart, lamb kebab or truffade (auvergne - cantal - 15).

Organoleptic analysis of natural-sweet wine of New Zealand

On the nose the natural sweet wine of the region of New Zealand. often reveals types of flavors of non oak, microbio or oak and sometimes also flavors of dried fruit, earth or tree fruit. In the mouth the natural sweet wine of the region of New Zealand. is a powerful with a lot of tannins present in the mouth.

The best vintages in natural-sweet wine of New Zealand

  • 1980 With an average score of 4.40/5
  • 2017 With an average score of 4.00/5
  • 2014 With an average score of 3.90/5

The most used grape varieties in natural-sweet wine of New Zealand

  • Pinot Noir
  • Shiraz/Syrah
  • Pinot Gris
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Chardonnay

The best wineries and winemakers for natural-sweet wine of New Zealand

A wine route planned in the region of New Zealand? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best natural-sweet wine of New Zealand.

Discover the grape variety: Cabernet franc

Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest red grape varieties in Bordeaux. The Libourne region is its terroir where it develops best. The terroirs of Saint-Emilion and Fronsac allow it to mature and develop its best range of aromas. It is also the majority in many blends. The very famous Château Cheval Blanc, for example, uses 60% Cabernet Franc. The wines produced with Cabernet Franc are medium in colour with fine tannins and subtle aromas of small red fruits and spices. When blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it brings complexity and a bouquet of aromas to the wine. It produces fruity wines that can be drunk quite quickly, but whose great vintages can be kept for a long time. It is an earlier grape variety than Cabernet Sauvignon, which means that it is planted as far north as the Loire Valley. In Anjou, it is also used to make sweet rosé wines. Cabernet Franc is now used in some twenty countries in Europe and throughout the world.

News from the vineyard of New Zealand

Andrew Jefford: ‘The gifts of Bacchus hold our gaze like a procession’

Do growers make wine – or do markets? Growers, of course. Yet markets define the scope of the grower’s creative efforts by what they reward or sanction. When markets are neglectful and unresponsive, there’s little the grower can do but conform. It’s a problem the world over. Here’s an example. The river Moselle/Mosel rises to the wet west of the Vosges mountains, then curves in a long green arc heading north through Epinal, Metz and (along the left bank) Luxembourg’s Grand Duchy, turning east at ...

Walls’ hidden gems: Clos de la Bonnette, Condrieu

How do we define a great winemaking estate? Extraordinary terroir, winemaking excellence and a long track record for quality are three criteria that spring to mind. Clos de la Bonnette can only claim the first two, as Isabelle Guiller-Montabonnet has only been making wine since 2009. Scroll down to see Matt Walls’ tasting notes and scores for eight Clos de la Bonnette wines As for the third element, however, I suspect it’s only a matter of time. {"content":"PC9wPgo8cD48ZGl2I ...

Château Mouton Rothschild reveals 2019 label

Château Mouton Rothschild has unveiled the latest iteration of its collection of unique, artist-designed labels. Contemporary artists such as Salvador Dalí, César Baldaccini, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol, have been illustrating Château Mouton Rothschild labels since the 1945 vintage. The label of Château Mouton Rothschild’s 2019 vintage was designed by Berlin-based, Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, who works in a range of fields from painting to digital media. ...

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