North Canterbury is part of the Marlborough wine region, located in the northwest of New Zealand.
North Canterbury is part of the Marlborough wine region, located in the northwest of New Zealand. North Canterbury is south of the equator, but because it’s in the Southern Hemisphere, its winter falls in summer. Because New Zealand sits on two tectonic plates, it has an unusual climate that combines cool continental weather and a marine influence. The wine industry has taken advantage of this unique set-up to create crisp whites and well-balanced reds.
Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest wine producer by far; it produces over 80% of all wines made in New Zealand. Sauvignon Blanc wines from here are frequently light and fruity with notes of tropical fruits or citrus and a noticeable acidity on a dry finish. Alternatively, many Pinot Noirs that hail from this region have a high level of acidity due to their lower alcohol content; they often have an undercurrent of dark cherries or juicy berries like blackcurrants or blueberries!
The Marlborough region is famous for its Sauvignon Blanc.
The Marlborough region is famous for producing some of the world’s most popular Sauvignon Blanc. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand’s most planted variety, and often what comes to mind when people think of New Zealand wine. This in part because it was the first variety exported out of NZ and has been growing internationally in popularity over the years.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has a distinctively crisp, dry style and is known for its fruit-forward flavor profile—think flavors like passionfruit, grapefruit, lime and melons. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is typically unoaked (not aged in oak barrels), which helps keep the bright fruit characteristics prominent.
It’s also a famous wine region for Pinot Noir.
One of the most well-known wine varietals, Pinot Noir is a red grape variety originated from France and has been growing in New Zealand for over a century. The grape produces smooth and fine wines that have become increasingly popular over time. It’s also one of the oldest wines produced in New Zealand.
A lesser known variety from North Canterbury is Pinot Gris.
Pinot Gris is another variety that really shines in the cooler climate of North Canterbury. While it can be a tricky grape to grow, it has tremendous potential as a wine and also serves as an excellent alternative to Pinot Noir for those who want to expand their palate.
Pinot Gris had a bad reputation until recently.
Pinot gris, like many grape varieties, has a tough time escaping its past. In this case, as with so many others in the New World, it’s an association with jug wine. Pinot gris was in fact one of the grapes that got chucked into Dark Horse and Gallo Hearty Burgundy back when we all drank rotgut plonk.
But even if you didn’t drink those wines, you may have tasted pinot gris and not known it: There are many white wines that contain a small amount of red wine grapes to give them more complexity than they might otherwise have. That’s often pinot noir or syrah—but sometimes it’s cabernet sauvignon or even petite sirah.
It’s still small compared to other regions in North Zealand, but it grows in cooler climates and can produce great wines.
Pinot Gris is a variety of white wine grape. It’s most commonly used in sparkling wines, though it can be used in red wine too. Pinot Gris’ high acidity and low tannins make it a common ingredient in red wines as well.
A style that blends well with Pinot Gris is Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is a popular white grape variety. This well known variety has been grown in the Marlborough region for many years and is now associated with high quality wines that have a range of different flavours.
Sauvignon Blanc has its own name, namely “Somerset”, but it’s often mixed with other white varieties.
Somerset is a sweet wine made from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. It takes its name from the Somerset River, in which the monks were fond of swimming. The monks also produced Pinot Noir and Riesling varietals, but they are less common today.
There are many more types of white wines in New Zealand than red wines.
As a general rule, New Zealand produces more white wines than red. It’s well known for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. However, other popular varieties like Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Semillon also exist in the country.
If you’re getting into white wines from New Zealand, it’s worth trying some of the lesser-known varieties to get a sense of how the wine industry is changing and developing its own identity. This can be an exciting way to discover new wines that will become your favorites!