New Zealand

Rather than quantity, the inability to plant more than a quarter of one percent of the world's total grapes ensures that New Zealand has a concentrated eye on quality. Much of New Zealands climate is prime for grape growing. Moderate temperatures, warm and sunny days and cool and breezy nights allow for long seasons. The star grape of all of New Zealand is the Sauvignon Blanc which encompasses goosberry, passionfruit, citrus and asparagus flavors. Other varieties include the Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muller-Thurgau. Also, the rich loamy New Zealand soil is proving to be a great breeding ground for the difficult to grow Pinot Noir grape. Other varieties enjoying successful production include the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and the Cabernet Franc in the North Island regions. New Zealand wine producing regions include Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough, and Central Otago. The country is best known for its extremely fruitful and dry Sauvignon Blanc, which rivals its French counterparts and is known as the worlds greatest of its kind.