A number of the wineries have cellar doors and many boast superb winery restaurants that make the most of the abundant fresh local produce. The wines of new zealand by rebecca gibb mw this new book uncovers the diversity of this isolated yet innovative wine producing country. With approximately 27 boutique vineyards and wineries, waiheke is one of new zealand s awardwinning wine growing regions and billed as one of the worlds top 10 destinations in lonely planets best in travel 2016. My longtime favorite boutique hotel in the city, mollies, recently closed and will revert to being a private residence, leaving the langham as the best available. About an hour north from the central city, matakana boasts numerous wineries amidst its rolling green hills. From familyowned vineyards and wineries to some of the best vineyards in the world, new zealand s north island offers wine enthusiasts fabulous options for a fun outing and tasting. So book this tour for your group and enjoy a whole day cruising around. During the summer its 7,000 permanent residents are inundated by 50,000 visitors think. However, there are many different grapes grown in a variety of soil types and climates on the north and south islands, meaning that new zealand boasts a range of wine styles. Discover new zealand wine tours with exclusive bespoke tours of award winning wineries in the north and south islands more on. New wineries and vineyards are emerging in regions outside the main wine growing areas mainly around the west and central north island. End your journey in rotorua where weird and wonderful geothermal sights, quirky adventure and unique maori culture offer something for.
This awardwinning winery offers a tasting room at the top of the skyline gondola so expect breathtaking views and great wines. Compared to its new world competitors in australia and the united states, new zealand was late in developing a modern wine industry. So book this tour for your group and enjoy a whole day cr. Oct 19, 2018 visiting wairarapa wineries on your new zealand trip. North island wine tours, wine tasting tours, winery tour, new. Click each title to visit the regional page, read about each region, watch a video and find a list of all the wineries and vineyards in that region. The cruisestyle ferry linking new zealands north and south islands takes just. Wine regions of new zealand about new zealand new zealand. You can choose to selfdrive or pick a guided boutique wine tour with a local insider whos knowledge will enhance your regional experience. Book your next northland wine experience with vintrail. Waiheke island, wineries in new zealand things to see. You can opt for a wine tour or explore the regions wineries independently at your own pace by bike.
Warm spring temperatures, hot dry summers, and calm, clear autumn days allow fruit to ripen early, creating fullbodied and rich wines. New zealand s wine producing history extends back to the founding of the nation in the 1800s. Discover the produce and panoramas for which new zealand s north island is famous on this 5. You wont find any winery cliches here except for the views, of course. Its this area thats responsible for bringing sauvignon blanc the worlds attention and still produces two thirds of the countrys wine making it a prime destination. Nz north island wine experiences vineyard day tours wine.
There are nine separate wine regions in the north island of new zealand from northland in the far north to the inland area of the wairarapa at the southern end. Visitors to gisborne usually take a flight from auckland. Wine tours in new zealand wine tasting holidays in new. The cruisestyle ferry linking new zealands north and south island. North island wine tours showcase the best in fine wines made at top wineries and vineyards in new zealand. Some north island wineries accommodation even offer wine pairing classes, so you can take all your classy new knowledge home with you. Top 5 most beautiful wineries in new zealand wine lovers tours. Two touring routes meander through the central north island, both ending in hawkes bay a premier food and wine destination. Pegasus bay winery this winery is famous and holds a place in the book. Discover the history and passion behind every bottle with the best wine tours in north island. But either because of their architecture, or stunning locations, and many times both, we wanted to share with you the top 5 new zealand wineries that made the most favorable impression. Book your next central north island wine experience with vintrail. Sample internationally acclaimed wines such as pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, on a wine tasting tour in north island.
The first vines in new zealand were planted in the bay of islands by the missionary. Food and wine central north island lake taupo, new zealand. New zealand wine is distinctive for its purity, vibrancy and intensity. It is blessed with a warm, dry microclimate and is renowned for its intensely flavoured. New wineries and vineyards are emerging in regions outside the main wine growing areas mainly around. While most of new zealand s wineries are scattered across the north island, its southern sibling can claim the largest and most renowned wine region in marlborough. Waiheke island, in the hauraki gulf, a short ferry ride from downtown auckland, was established from the early 1980s as a premium district for the production of high quality red wines based on cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc.
Impress your friends by recommending what varietal goes best with roast beef or a zesty herb saladyou can thank us later. Mar 26, 2017 new zealand is a relatively new wine country so most of these wineries werent even around 1020 years ago. Here youll find framingham, a winery that does away with snootiness and replaces it with live music and good times. Wine tours in new zealand wine tasting holidays in new zealand. These vineyard hotels in new zealand have been described as romantic by other travelers. New zealand wineries have a wide range of offerings including quaint cottages. Sample wines from boutique wineries, and try delicious. Cooler climates lead to a longer growing period and this is what gives new zealand wine its depth of flavour. Best wine regions of new zealand new zealand travel. Among the wineries here are kumeu river wines, soljans estate, matua, babich wines and nobilo some of these among the oldest wineries in new zealand. Wineries and vineyards of the central north island region.
Its northern location and close proximity to the sea nowhere is more than 50 kilometres from the ocean give the northland region an almost subtropical climate. Families traveling in new zealand enjoyed their stay at the following vineyard hotels. The long ripening period a result of cooler temperatures allows flavour development whilst retaining fresh acidity, a balance which new zealand wines are famous for. The best wineries on new zealands north island the star. It has taken the label of new zealands wine island full of smaller scale. One of the worlds most exclusive and spectacular wine growing regions, waiheke island is a short ferry ride from the central city.
This circular route through some of the north island s wine country provides a stunning range of landscape contrasts. Taste your way through three significant wine regions on the classic new zealand. These distinctly new zealand locations provide us with so much more than scenery. Five wineries to visit on new zealands south island if. Jan 09, 2019 new zealand is known around the world for its wines, and the north island is sprinkled with some of the finest wineries in the country for tastings and amazing views. Wairarapa is just north of wellington, on the eastern side of the north island making a day trip from wellington a great way to visit, or if youre travelling down from hawkes bay youll pass right through. Batch winery waiheke island 2021 all you need to know.
New zealand is divided into two islands, the north island and the south island, and the grapegrowing conditions from the north of the north island where the landscape looks classically like the south pacificto the south of the south island, which resembles switzerland in many important ways, are remarkably different. There is a predominance of north island wineries, with the areas around auckland high in number. Pegasus bay winery this winery is famous and holds a place in t. Jan 16, 2018 new zealand s temperate maritime climate is ideal for growing grapes, and sitting outside enjoying the wine that the grapes helped produce. We were fortunate to visit this vineyard on a beautiful summers day and after the wine tasting, and purchase of several bottles, we sat outside and enjoyed a glass of wine while taking in the stunning view. Five wineries to visit on new zealands south island if you. But it was the introduction to marlboroughs astonishing sauvignon blanc in the 1980s that saw new zealand wine receive high acclaim and international recognition. Auckland is home to reds with a very intense power, the sunny weather in hawkes bay provides great soil for its bordeaux blends and wairapas highly soughtafter wine boasts staples like pinot and sauvignon, as well as sweeter dessert wines. Compact in size, this island gem is perfect for a day trip or a weekend trip.
New zealand s wineries are found in some of the most spectacular environments, including stunning coastlines, and rolling green hills. New zealand s north island produces some of the new worlds most talkedabout wines, including lively sauvignon blancs and balanced rieslings. If youre planning a trip to new zealands north island with the goal of hitting the most wineries you can in a short time frame, youre in the wrong place. Visit the kumeu river winery with your guide and learn of new zealand s early winemaking pioneers. The story of new zealand wine is a story of change, starting from the early british and french pioneers through the dalmatian gumdiggers and. Sep 10, 2018 while youre in the north, set your sights on renwick, a little town east of blenheim in the marlborough region of the island. Visit several mustsee sights around the bay and some of new zealands best.
North island wine tours, wine tasting tours, winery tour. We will endeavour to keep up with these and list them here areas such as taranaki, kapiti and the central plateau around taupo and tongariro book your next central north island wine experience with vintrail. While new zealand has been making wine for centuries, the modern history of new zealand wine only goes back a few decades. Firstly, the incredible flora and fauna from which we design our menus utilising ingredients such line caught kingfish from the bay of slands and wild fiordland venison in the south mean our culinary offerings, paired with our unparalleled quiver wines. While many wineries throughout new zealand are known to serve great food, those in gisborne are especially renowned for this. Its vines are relatively recent produce stylish pinot gris, syrah and bordeaux reds. From the planting of the first vines in 1819, the latest addition to the classic wine library series recounts the history and struggles of the early winemakers and its rise to fame as a sauvignon blanc superstar. Mar 09, 2020 this new zealand winery is on the east coast of the north island. North island wineries and wilderness rotorua, new zealand. Vineyard and winery accommodation nz tourism guide. While the countrys signature sauvignon blanc has been. The regions soils are unique in new zealand, as they are predominantly lime.
North island wineries and wilderness this circular route through some of the north island s wine country provides a stunning range of landscape contrasts. The north island, famous for its volcanic mountains and hot springs, is blessed with a yearround maritime climate that makes new zealand north island vineyards some of the most successful in the southern hemisphere. The 5 best vineyard hotels in new zealand mar 2021 with. Stretching from karikari in the north to mangawhai in the south, each vineyard in northland is. Classic new zealand wine trail itinerary hawkes bay, new zealand. New zealand s wine culture has only been recognized in the. The north island of new zealand is a diverse region for wine. Most international flights arrive in new zealand s capital of auckland, set on an isthmus between two harbors, at the north of the north island. Do not miss these 12 wineries in new zealand bacon is magic. Nothing completes a new zealand wine holiday quite like staying at a vineyard. With some of the most beautiful vineyard landscapes, wine tastings and tours are a fantastic experience for all. Winery andor vineyard accommodation is an ideal alternative. Nov 17, 2017 waiheke island our next stop was waiheke island, a stunning, 32squaremile rock, just a 30minute seaplane ride east of auckland, that is home to over 20 wineries and close to 50 hotels. Whether you are travelling to the furthermost point of the north island or touring the south island there is a wine region and cellar door around the corner.
Explore wild and beautiful lake waikaremoana and swathes of wineries in napier, before heading on to taupo for water activities of all kinds. With a history dating back to the mid1800s, new zealand has seen its wine production expand and improve over the years. Originally known as a cool climate wine producer, new zealand and its wine industry have evolved, and the differences between the north and south islands have become clear. May 24, 2018 like everything in new zealand, you are never far from one of the renowned wine growing regions. The thermal explorer highway leads to geothermallyfarmed prawns and traditional hangi food. The waitaki valley experiences cool temperatures, high levels of sunshine, and low precipitation. After lunch we will drive north over the famous auckland harbour bridge to the kumeu. Cellar doors across this beautiful, unspoiled country are comfortable and approachable and the winemakers and. Gisborne, in the east of the north island, is home to around 25 wineries, with chardonnay, pinot gris, and sauvignon blanc grapes being the stars of the show. Waiheke island, wineries in new zealand things to see and. It will take you just over 10 minutes to drive there from the main town, or similar travel time from the airport.
Nz north island wine experiences vineyard day tours. Auckland is home to reds with a very intense power, the sunny weather in hawkes bay provides great soil for its bordeaux blends and wairapas highly soughtafter wine boasts staples like pinot and. New zealand wine is surprisingly wellknown, despite the fact that it makes up less than 1% of all of the worlds wine. In 1960, despite its largely agricultural economy, the country had only 1,000 acres of vines, mostly planted around auckland on the north island.
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