At first glance, the history of wine in New Zealand looks short. Wines made from classic European grape varieties have only been widely available since the 1980s and only since the 1990s have the country’s Sauvignon Blancs and – later - Pinot Noirs carved out a significant presence in international markets.
Wind the clock back 20 years and Pinot Noir was barely known, leave alone grown, in New Zealand. But today there are plenty of reasons to celebrate the variety, and on 18 August Kiwis will be doing just that.
New Zealand Chardonnay fans will raise a glass again this year when International Chardonnay Day is celebrated on Thursday 21 May.
In every glass of Sauvignon Blanc, discover a taste of New Zealand. On May 1, International Sauvignon Blanc Day, raise a glass to New Zealand's flagship wine, and its continuing evolution.
In the 1970's, a New Zealander dreamed of creating a new style of wine. Now New Zealand is synonymous with the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc.
The world’s love affair with New Zealand wine grows as wine lovers continue to explore our diverse range of wine varieties and styles. Central to the success of New Zealand wine is our temperate maritime climate, the unwavering passion of our wine producers, and the highly distinctive nature of our wine styles.
As Pinot Noir ages, it develops distinct aromas and flavours that contribute to its complexity. So far, more than 40,000 distinct compounds have been detected to comprise Pinot Noir’s chemical matrix, and it is believed there are still more to be found.
