Gisborne is a valley in the northeastern corner of New Zealand’s North Island.
Gisborne is a town located in the valley of the same name on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Gisborne is also called Eastland because it’s located literally just to the east of quite a few other places.
To clarify, Gisborne isn’t an island—it’s a place that can be found on one. It’s also not a city or even exactly a region, but rather a district (which is basically like your average county).
The volcanic soils and cool climate produce a distinctive range of wines.
Gisborne’s climate is temperate, characterized by cool nights and rainy winters. The soil is volcanic and has high levels of potassium and phosphorus, which are good for grapes. Chardonnay thrives in the region, as do Gewürztraminer and Chenin Blanc.
The most recent harvest yielded a Chardonnay from 55-year-old vines that had been picked late after being hit with botrytis (a “noble rot” that concentrates the sugars) at an astonishing 35 degrees brix (i.e. a very sweet wine). It was bottled without any malolactic fermentation, keeping it bright and tangy: a perfect reflection of its origin—the finest example I have tasted from this region to date.
Gisborne wines include Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.
Gisborne is a valley on the northeastern corner of New Zealand’s North Island. It’s a small, sunny place, with beaches and rolling hills. Because Gisborne is the first place in the world to see the sun each day, it’s one of New Zealand’s warmest regions, with hot summers and mild winters.
It may surprise you to learn that Gisborne wines include Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. You’ll also find Chardonnay, Pinot Gris (or Pinot Grigio), Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Nevertheless, Gisborne is best known for its distinctive Chardonnay style—one that showcases bright fruit flavors along with an unctuous texture brought about by lees aging in oak casks.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also grown in the region.
Further popular varietals grown in Gisborne are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, two of the most popular varietals in the world. Pinot Noir is a red grape which is used to make both red wine and sparkling wine. Chardonnay can be used to make both white and sparkling wines, and is one of the most widely planted grapes across the globe.
Cider is made with apples grown in Gisborne, especially the tart Granny Smith variety.
Did you know [you] can make alcohol from apples? It’s true! Cider is a beverage made by pressing apples to extract their juice, fermenting the juice and then filtering it. The result is a dry, sparkling beverage that’s sometimes called “hard cider” in order to differentiate it from “apple cider”, which is non-alcoholic.
Cider originated in England, and some say it was brought there by the Romans. Today, cider production is highly concentrated in the United Kingdom, but it has become popular around the world as well.
Wine regions of New Zealand
Gisborne is a wine region in the northeastern corner of New Zealand’s North Island. It was the first place in New Zealand to see sunlight, giving rise to its motto, “The first city to see the light.” Gisborne is known for its Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer wines. The region also produces Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.