
Pinot Noir is predominantly grown in the cooler southerly regions: Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson, North Canterbury and Central Otago.
The huge diversity in climates and soils enables a wide range of styles from these main Pinot Noir producing regions. Common to all, however, is structure and elegance overlaid by power and fruit-driven intensity.
Since the 1990s, plantings have expanded throughout all regions in the South Island and select sites in the North Island.
New Zealand Pinot Noir has seen impressive growth in export sales in the last five years, with 1.5 million cases exported in the 12 months to June year-end 2018. It is now second only to Sauvignon Blanc in production volume.
It’s staggering how quickly New Zealand has built a reputation for quality Pinot Noir considering the first commercial bottling of Pinot Noir in the country was in 1987.
Ray Jordan