wines from new zealand

New Zealand’s wine regions stretch over 1,100 km (700 miles) from the subtropical Northland down to Central Otago, where the world’s southernmost vineyards are located. The vineyards, and therefore the wines of New Zealand, benefit from the moderating effect of the maritime climate, the long hours of sunshine and the nights cooled by the sea breezes.

No vineyard is further than 120 km from the sea. Most of the wine regions are located on the eastern coastlines of the North and South Islands, in the rain shadow of the mountains, each with its own unique soils and climatic conditions. Within these diverse regions, sub-regional characteristics shine through and New Zealand wines are distinguished as coming not just from one wine region, but from one sub-region and one locality.