| Wine tours in New Zealand are popular with both local | | | | soil in Gisborne is known for the Gewrztraminers, |
| and international visitors alike. You can find specialist | | | | Rieslings flourish in the South Island and Pinot Gris is |
| travel and holiday planners in NZ that offer fantastic | | | | mostly produced in Marlborough and Canterbury. A |
| packages and tailor made/personalised tours of the | | | | few award winning brands in 2009 were: Toi Toi |
| wine regions you are most interested in. Visiting a | | | | Marlborough Riesling 2009, Waimea Nelson |
| range of wineries and sampling a variety of different | | | | Gewurztraminer 2008 and Greystone Waipara Pinot |
| blends can help you expand your palate and acquire | | | | Gris 2009. |
| new tastes. Having an expert guide take you around | | | | Pinot Noir |
| local wineries means you can also learn about the | | | | This grape variety grows better in cooler |
| local area and its people. | | | | temperatures with low rainfall. Martinborough |
| If you'd prefer to have a bit more knowledge about | | | | produces the finest pinot noir in NZ. The Hawkes |
| the various grape varieties grown and brands | | | | Bay, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago |
| produced in New Zealand, before you start calling | | | | region also produce this wine. A few award winning |
| yourself a wine connoisseur, you can make a start | | | | brands in 2009 were: Burnt Spur Martinborough Pinot |
| by becoming familiar with the following. | | | | Noir 2007, Babich Winemakers Reserve Pinot Noir |
| Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot | | | | 2008 and Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008. |
| Much of this red grape variety is produced in the | | | | Sauvignon Blanc |
| warmer northern regions of NZ including: Auckland, | | | | This grape variety is produced in both the northern |
| Northland, Waikato and Hawkes Bay. A few award | | | | and southern regions of NZ. The northern styles are |
| winning brands in 2009 were: Villa Maria Reserve | | | | typically richer and the southern styles more lighter |
| Merlot 2007, Mills Reef Elspeth Cabernet Merlot 2007 | | | | and crisp. A few award winning brand in 2009 were: |
| and Matariki Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. | | | | Esk Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Villa |
| Chardonnay | | | | Maria Reserve Wairau Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and |
| Gisborne is known as the 'chardonnay capital' of NZ. | | | | Waipara Hills SOTS Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc |
| This grape variety is produced across the country | | | | 2009. |
| namely in these following areas: Hawkes Bay, | | | | When it comes time to booking your wine tour in |
| Wellington region, Marlborough, Canterbury and | | | | New Zealand remember to take a notebook with |
| Central Otago. A few award winning brands in 2009 | | | | you to write down particular brands you favour and |
| were: Rockburn Chardonnay 2007, Villa Maria Reserve | | | | any meal ideas that compliment certain grape |
| Barrique Chardonnay 2007 and West Brook Barrique | | | | varieties. Then you will be sounding more like a wine |
| Fermented Chardonnay 2007. | | | | connoisseur at your next dinner party, as you discuss |
| Aromatic | | | | the various wineries you visited on your tour in New |
| Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris are the | | | | Zealand. |
| aromatic varieties produced in NZ. The climate and | | | | |