Oceania

New Zealand

The small island nation that redefined Sauvignon Blanc and now makes some of the world's most exciting Pinot Noir.

New Zealand makes just over 1% of the world's wine, yet it punches far above its weight. Its Sauvignon Blanc - explosively aromatic, with passionfruit, grapefruit and fresh-cut grass - became a global style, mostly from the South Island's Marlborough region.

The same cool, maritime conditions that suit Sauvignon Blanc are ideal for Pinot Noir, and Central Otago, Martinborough and Marlborough now produce some of the most seductive Pinot Noirs outside Burgundy.

New Zealand's winemaker culture is young, energetic and quality-obsessed, and the two islands' dramatic landscapes produce intensely pure, aromatic wines that are unmistakably New Zealand.

🍷 Wine fact: Marlborough was mostly empty sheep country until the 1970s, when Montana (now Brancott Estate) proved the valley could ripen Sauvignon Blanc brilliantly - within a decade the region was famous worldwide.
Continent
Oceania
World share
≈ 1% of wine
Signature grapes
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
Key islands
North + South Island

Wine Regions

All regions →

Marlborough

Northeastern corner of New Zealand's South Island, around the town of Blenheim.

Central Otago

New Zealand's South Island interior, around Queenstown and Cromwell - the world's southernmost wine region.

Hawke's Bay

The east coast of New Zealand's North Island, around Napier - one of NZ's most historic wine regions.

Auckland

Northern New Zealand, around the country's largest city: from the Kumeu hills west of the city to Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Notable Wines

All wines →
white

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough · 2024 (representative vintage)

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc is an white wine from New Zealand, in the Marlborough region (Northeastern corner of New Zealand's South Island, around the town of Blenheim.), made principally from Sauvignon Blanc. The wine that put Marlborough and New Zealand Sauvignon on the world stage in the 1980s.

$28–$40 est. retail

red

Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir

Central Otago · 2024 (representative vintage)

Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir is an red wine from New Zealand, in the Central Otago region (New Zealand's South Island interior, around Queenstown and Cromwell - the world's southernmost wine region.), made principally from Pinot Noir. Central Otago's most famous biodynamic pinot estate — pure, perfumed and deeply site-expressive.

$65–$100 est. retail

white

Kumeu River Chardonnay

Auckland · 2024 (representative vintage)

Kumeu River Chardonnay is an white wine from New Zealand, in the Auckland region (Northern New Zealand, around the country's largest city: from the Kumeu hills west of the city to Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf.), made principally from Chardonnay. A St-Aubin-inspired Chardonnay that critics rank among the best outside Burgundy — and it knows it.

$30–$50 est. retail

white

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough · 2024 (representative vintage)

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is an white wine from New Zealand, in the Marlborough region (Northeastern corner of New Zealand's South Island, around the town of Blenheim.), made principally from Sauvignon Blanc. a house-style Marlborough sauvignon blanc that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

red

Marlborough Pinot Noir

Marlborough · 2024 (representative vintage)

Marlborough Pinot Noir is an red wine from New Zealand, in the Marlborough region (Northeastern corner of New Zealand's South Island, around the town of Blenheim.), made principally from Pinot Noir. a house-style Marlborough pinot noir that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

white

Marlborough Chardonnay

Marlborough · 2024 (representative vintage)

Marlborough Chardonnay is an white wine from New Zealand, in the Marlborough region (Northeastern corner of New Zealand's South Island, around the town of Blenheim.), made principally from Chardonnay. a house-style Marlborough chardonnay that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Buying New Zealand Wine

  • › For Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough is the benchmark, but try 'Estate' or 'single vineyard' bottlings for greater depth, or the newer 'oaked' style for richness.
  • › Central Otago and Martinborough Pinot Noirs are world-class but pricey; Marlborough Pinot Noir offers the best value from the variety in NZ.
  • › Drink NZ whites young and cold; the best Pinot Noirs reward a few years in bottle and pair superbly with roast chicken and duck.