NZ white wine fast stats & facts

71% of New Zealand wine production - nationally, over 25,000 hectares of vineyard land are devoted to growing the grape.
Sauvignon Blanc makes up 85% of all New Zealand wine exported
Sauvignon Blanc was commercially produced on our shores for the first time in the 1970s.
It is the country's most widely planted variety, and has established itself as New Zealand's flagship wine the world over.
Three-quarters of all Sauvignon Blanc is planted in Marlborough (22k+ ha), followed by Hawke's Bay (1k+ ha) and Nelson (0.6k ha).
It's one of the parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon. The other? Cabernet Franc.
Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent food-pairing wine. Depending on which style you’re pouring, you can roll with everything from Thai food and grilled chicken to salmon and pasta

6% of New Zealand wine production
Chardonnay makes up 2% of all New Zealand wine exported
Chardonnay takes its name from the village of Chardonnay in the Mâcon region of Burgundy
Chardonnay is the most widely distributed white grape in the world, and is the world's most popular white wine. It's virtually planted in every wine region in the world
Got bubbles? So does Chardonnay. Chardonnay is one of the three main grapes used in Sparkling wine, along with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
28,000 tonnes of Chardonnay is produced in New Zealand, and makes up around 6% of New Zealand wine production
A young or unoaked Chardonnay is fabulous with seafood. Mature New Zealand Chardonnays are richer and more complex and complement savoury dishes such as chicken, veal and rabbit
Chardonnay shows its best served between 12ºC and 14ºC

5% of New Zealand wine production
Pinot Gris makes up 4% of all New Zealand wine exported
Pinot Gris translates to ‘grey pinecone’ – referring to the nature of the bunch of grapes and their greyish-blue skin
Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are both made from the same grape, the difference is location – Pinot Gris originated in France and Pinot Grigio in Italy
The Pinot Gris grape is a mutation of Pinot Noir and loses colour during fermentation
Pinot Gris is an ‘early to market’ wine best consumed within 1 – 4 years
Like other aromatics, Pinot Gris is best served chilled at around 7ºC
Adding a touch of Pinot Gris to pastry will make a pie crust or tart more tender and add a hint of sweetness