The best wines of North Island

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

Top wines of North Island by region

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

Great red wines of North Island

See the top 100 best red wines of North Island

Want to buy a red wine of North Island cheap or sell a red wine of North Island 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 North Island

Red wines from the region of North Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, pasta or veal such as recipes of venison stew to be prepared the day before, pasta with broccoli or potjevlesch (northern france).

Organoleptic analysis of red wine of North Island

On the nose the red wine of the region of North Island. often reveals types of flavors of cream, floral or microbio and sometimes also flavors of vegetal, oak or spices. In the mouth the red wine of the region of North Island. is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.

The best vintages in red wine of North Island

  • 1998With an average score of 4.80/5
  • 1997With an average score of 4.80/5
  • 1996With an average score of 4.80/5
  • 2000With an average score of 4.60/5
  • 2006With an average score of 4.56/5
  • 2005With an average score of 4.51/5

The most used grape varieties in red wine of North Island

  • Shiraz/Syrah
  • Merlot
  • Pinot Noir
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Malbec

The best wineries and winemakers for red wine of North Island

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

Discovering the wine region of North Island

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.

Great white wines of North Island

See the top 100 best white wines of North Island

Want to buy a white wine of North Island cheap or sell a white wine of North Island 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 North Island

White wines from the region of North Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, vegetarian or goat cheese such as recipes of penne with shrimp and zucchini, quiche lorraine or migliacci (corsica).

Organoleptic analysis of white wine of North Island

On the nose the white wine of the region of North Island. often reveals types of flavors of grapefruit, tropical fruit or floral and sometimes also flavors of black fruit, spices or non oak. In the mouth the white wine of the region of North Island. is a with a nice freshness.

The best vintages in white wine of North Island

  • 2008With an average score of 4.10/5
  • 2020With an average score of 3.89/5
  • 2014With an average score of 3.83/5
  • 2018With an average score of 3.77/5
  • 2015With an average score of 3.76/5
  • 2017With an average score of 3.75/5

The most used grape varieties in white wine of North Island

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Gris

The best wineries and winemakers for white wine of North Island

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

Discover the grape variety: Müller-Thurgau

Müller-Thurgau shows the character of its noble origins. This Swiss white grape variety is a cross between the royal madeleine and the riesling. The idea that the latter was crossed with the sylvaner is irrelevant. The variety can be recognized by its vigorous character and its semi-erect habit. Preferring rich soils and short prunings, the plant sees its buds open quite early. The buds are cottony and soft green in color. The slightly embossed and tormented blade, with 5 to 7 lobes, makes it possible to distinguish the adult leaves. The clusters appear compact, pyramidal or cylindrical in shape and small to medium in size. The flavour of the Müller-Turgau berries is reminiscent of Muscat. The juicy and crunchy pulp is revealed under a greyish skin. When ripe, the fruit has a mottled shell on a golden yellow background. Switzerland prefers to extract the juice from this variety. The wine made from it is rather heavy and does not keep well.

Great sparkling wines of North Island

See the top 100 best sparkling wines of North Island

Want to buy a sparkling wine of North Island cheap or sell a sparkling wine of North Island 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 North Island

Sparkling wines from the region of North Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of roast pork with mustard and honey, salmon and zucchini gratin or quiche with leeks and fresh salmon from flo.

Organoleptic analysis of sparkling wine of North Island

On the nose the sparkling wine of the region of North Island. often reveals types of flavors of cream, earth or red fruit and sometimes also flavors of floral, black fruit or vegetal.

The best vintages in sparkling wine of North Island

  • 2019With an average score of 4.20/5
  • 2015With an average score of 4.00/5
  • 2011With an average score of 3.90/5
  • 2016With an average score of 3.84/5
  • 2020With an average score of 3.80/5
  • 2018With an average score of 3.80/5

The most used grape varieties in sparkling wine of North Island

  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Moscato
  • Pinot Gris

The best wineries and winemakers for sparkling wine of North Island

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

The word of the wine: Foxé

An animal odor found in certain reduced or old wines, which are also said to fox, in reference to the fox.

Great pink wines of North Island

See the top 100 best pink wines of North Island

Want to buy a pink wine of North Island cheap or sell a pink wine of North Island 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 North Island

Pink wines from the region of North Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, game (deer, venison) or rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) such as recipes of roast beef with garlic, wild boar stew (without marinade or wine) or salmon and spinach lasagna.

Organoleptic analysis of pink wine of North Island

On the nose the pink wine of the region of North Island. often reveals types of flavors of strawberries, red fruit or tropical fruit and sometimes also flavors of tree fruit, citrus fruit or non oak.

The best vintages in pink wine of North Island

  • 2014With an average score of 4.40/5
  • 2020With an average score of 3.80/5
  • 2017With an average score of 3.73/5
  • 2019With an average score of 3.58/5
  • 2018With an average score of 3.50/5

The most used grape varieties in pink wine of North Island

  • Merlot
  • Pinot Noir
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Shiraz/Syrah
  • Cabernet Sauvignon

The best wineries and winemakers for pink wine of North Island

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

Discover the grape variety: Merlot

Merlot noir is a grape variety that originated in France (Bordeaux). 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 to medium sized bunches, and medium sized grapes. Merlot noir can be found in many vineyards: South West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Armagnac, Burgundy, Jura, Champagne, Rhone Valley, Beaujolais, Provence & Corsica, Savoie & Bugey.

Great sweet wines of North Island

See the top 100 best sweet wines of North Island

Want to buy a sweet wine of North Island cheap or sell a sweet wine of North Island 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 North Island

Sweet wines from the region of North Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of spicy food, sweet desserts or pork such as recipes of garantita or karantita (algerian recipe), brownies with nuts or chicken pie.

Organoleptic analysis of sweet wine of North Island

On the nose the sweet wine of the region of North Island. often reveals types of flavors of earth, microbio or oak and sometimes also flavors of tree fruit, citrus fruit or floral.

The best vintages in sweet wine of North Island

  • 2014With an average score of 3.98/5
  • 2016With an average score of 3.94/5
  • 2011With an average score of 3.93/5
  • 2018With an average score of 3.89/5
  • 2017With an average score of 3.86/5
  • 2010With an average score of 3.85/5

The most used grape varieties in sweet wine of North Island

  • Riesling
  • Sémillon
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Muscat Blanc
  • Müller-Thurgau
  • Chenin Blanc

The best wineries and winemakers for sweet wine of North Island

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

The word of the wine: Confit

Said of red wines that offer a very ripe nose of red and black fruits reminiscent of jam. On the palate, these aromas are dominant, the wine is very fleshy and round, and leaves an impression of sweetness on the finish that weighs it down.

Great natural sweet wines of North Island

See the top 100 best natural sweet wines of North Island

Want to buy a natural-sweet wine of North Island cheap or sell a natural-sweet wine of North Island 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 North Island

Natural sweet wines from the region of North Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of normandy style escalope, basque chicken with chorizo or rabbit with kriek and cherries.

Organoleptic analysis of natural-sweet wine of North Island

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

The best vintages in natural-sweet wine of North Island

  • 1980With an average score of 4.40/5

The most used grape varieties in natural-sweet wine of North Island

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

The best wineries and winemakers for natural-sweet wine of North Island

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

Discover the grape variety: Sémillon

Sémillon blanc is a grape variety that originated in France (Bordeaux). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. Note that this grape variety can also be used for the elaboration of eaux de vie. This variety of vine is characterized by large bunches of grapes, and grapes of large size. Sémillon Blanc can be found in several vineyards: South-West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Armagnac, Provence & Corsica, Loire Valley, Rhone Valley, Savoie & Bugey, Beaujolais.

News from the vineyard of North Island

Treasury Wine Estates buys Yarra Valley vineyard from Accolade

Treasury Wine Estates has expanded its footprint in the Yarra Valley in Australia by purchasing the 55-hectare Beenak Vineyard from Accolade in a deal worth AU$7 million. The land is planted with 45ha of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, suited for both still and sparkling wine production. Tim Ford, chief executive at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), said the company was keen to bolster its cool climate winemaking capabilities. ‘Vineyards producing Pinot Noir are of particular interest as we respond ...

Ukraine winery’s mission to deliver bottles to DWWA

Amid the devastation and turmoil since Russia’s invasion on 24 February, Beykush winery on southern Ukraine’s Black Sea Coast has been among those attempting to continue operations as much as possible. Last week, Beykush began transporting thousands of wines to western Ukraine in order to protect them for possible export to other markets, winery director Svetlana Tsybak told Decanter. ‘Yesterday we sent three palettes, about 1,200 bottles, and today the same quantity,’ she said. She also s ...

Platinum: The 97 point wines of DWWA 2022

The largest-ever year for entries, an incredible 18,244 wines were judged at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards – with just 163 wines awarded a Platinum medal. ‘Winning a Platinum medal is something really exceptional’ said Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW. ‘Platinum is like the stratospheric level’ she commented, ‘so it’s really saying to the winemaker: this is a great wine.’ Making up just 0.87% of the total wines tasted at the 2022 c ...

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