New Zealand Wine Regions
The North and South Islands of New Zealand lie southeast of Australia. Both have moderate, maritime climates, but the North Island is the slightly warmer and rainier of the two. Chardonnay is widely planted on the North Island, where warm sun is tempered by cool ocean breezes, giving clusters long hangtime on the vines for wines of great richness. The South Island produces Chardonnay too, and the cooler climate brings out the variety's bright citrus acidity. Pinot Noir develops beautifully in the cooler conditions of the southern tip of the North Island and in the Marlborough and Central Otago regions of the South Island, taking on rich fruit character and lively tannins.
