Category Archives: Terroir

The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.

Choir boy and belly dancer settle in B.C. after roller coaster love story

Christine and Christopher met as teens in the United Kingdom

A Fort-Langley woman penned down her roller coaster love story, and it is as romantic and filmy as it could get. 

The Choirboy and the Bellydancer, a memoir by Christine Potter is a Valentine to her husband, Christopher Potter, will take readers through international wars and across nations before bringing them back to Fort Langley, where the couple found a cozy place to call home. 

A true romance tale of teenagers who met in the United Kingdom and fell in love at 16, the memoir includes tales from Christine’s life as a belly dancer in the Middle East. 

Born near the end of the Second World War, Christine and Christopher, a choirboy, worked together in a shop as teens. When a landlord kicked out Christine for scaring off her elderly roommate through her interest in horror stories, she had nowhere to go. Young Christopher convinced his family to allow her to live in their home. 

Soon after the duo fell in love, Christine moved to the Middle East at the age of 17 to join her father and became a belly dancer – a move that got her father fired from his civil engineering job. She returned to the U.K. and “picked up” her relationship with Christopher where they left off.

The book vividly describes the war era when Christopher’s home was bombed, and he was buried under the debris only to be found by a fireman who initially mistook baby Chris as a cat. 

The couple immigrated to Canada in 1965, and moved to Fort Langley in the ‘80s. 

“We love it here [Fort Langley] and we have made such good friends,” said Christine.

The couple recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary – 38 of their years together, living in Fort Langley. Not a bad run, considering the relationship was predicted to last for six months when they met in the 1960s. 

“It is one day at a time in our relationship and that is our philosophy,” said the couple. 

Now retired, the 78-year-old globetrotting author has worked as a travel journalist in the past. 

The stay-at-home period because of the COVID-19 pandemic offered Christine the time and opportunity she was looking for to pick up her passion for writing and to self-publish her work. 

The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is available online at Amazon and might soon be available in the local book stores. Christine said that some booksellers are showing interest in working with her. 

An avid reader, Christine said she reads “pretty much anything and everything.” 

Some people who bought the book even knocked on Christine’s door to get their copies signed. Her book is available online in Canada, England, and Australia, but the author is yet to receive one for herself.

“I haven’t got one for myself yet. It is very very frustrating,” said Christine chuckling.

Australia is an extremely important wine producing country, both in terms of quality and scale. In 2020, it produced 10.6 million hectolitres of wine, with approximately a 60:40 split between red and white grape varieties. .

Australia has developed a comprehensive appellation system with over 60 designated wine regions and wine produced to some capacity in every state. 

Its vast size and huge range of climatic and geographical conditions, makes it one of the most versatile wine-growing countries in the world. In 2021, there were just over 146,000 hectares (360,000 acres) of vineyards in Australia. 39 percent of this was planted to Shiraz, 24 percent to Cabernet Sauvignon and 21 percent to Chardonnay. Merlot covered 8 percent and Sauvignon Blanc 6 percent.

The country has also played a major role in the globalization of wine. Many of its brands have a strong international presence, as do its well-trained and well-qualified wine professionals, who have spread their expertise to many corners of the world.

Australian wine state by state

Wine is produced in all of Australia’s six states, however, the vast majority is made in the southeast. New South Wales, Victoria and inparticular South Australia, are the most important states for wine production as the cooler climates are more favourable for viniculture. The latter accounts for approximately half of the country’s annual output.

Western Australia only accounts for around two percent of national production. However, the best wineries are well known on export markets as the state as a wine style that is distinctly different from the rest of the country. The state produces approximately 20 percent of the country’s fine wine with the Bordeaux red blends of the Margaret River region particularly prominent. 

Climate, terroir and wine styles

Overall, the mesoclimates of Australia’s winemaking regions are most prominently affected by the southerly latitude, with a staunch Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Regional features such as altitude and proximity to the oceans also play a significant role. 

Soil types vary greatly from the overly fertile red-brown earth of the Riverina to the ancient, weathered granite-based soils of Margaret River. The most famous soil type of the Australian wine industry is the terra rossa of the Coonawarraregion in the southwest of South Australia. The vivid red, clay-loam has a high portion of iron ore and sits atop of a bed of limestone with surprisingly good drainage. It is a popular for soil type for wine production, producing particularly aromatic Cabernet Sauvignon. Similar soils are found in La Mancha of Spain and the Italian Carso region. 

This variety of terroir and growing conditions results in a broad portfolio of wine styles. By way of illustration, blockbuster Shiraz is produced in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. The neighboring Eden Valley, at higher altitudes, is the home of many of Australia’s best Rieslings. The Clare Valley portfolio also ranges from gutsy reds to elegant Riesling and Chardonnay.

Coastal influenced areas using cooler climate grapes include Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Further north, the moderating influence of the sea on the Fleurieu Peninsula produces a Mediterranean climate. 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of the mainland, Tasmania is best known for graceful Pinot Noir and sparkling wines.

Australian wine history and old vines

Looking backwards, the country has an impressive wine history. Many wine regions date back to the mid 19th Century. This does not compare to many European regions (and some New World ones). But the descendants of many founding families are still growing grapes. Different valleys or towns are often associated with immigration from a particular European country or province. This further adds to the diversity of Australian wine.

The country also boasts some of the oldest productive (ungrafted) grape vines in the world. Some were planted as far as the 1840s, and there are numerous century-old plots. The Barossa is a particular hot spot in this regard. Due to various factors including isolation, and the prevalance of sandy soils, the vineyards here did not experience wholesale devastation by phylloxera.

Scotsman James Busby, who is often referred to as “the Father of Australian viticulture” built a farm in the Hunter Valley in 1825 and brought seedlings from Europe. Opulent Barossa Shiraz, strong Coonawarra Cabernet, and wood-heavy Chardonnay can be described as figureheads from Down Under. But the elegant wines from the cool Australian wine regions are becoming very popular. Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon are the three main grape varieties from Australia.

Shiraz – The Icon of Australia

Shiraz is the most widely cultivated grape variety in Australia wine country. Shiraz, commonly known as Syrah in old wine countries, is a dark-skinned grape variety originated from the Rhône wine region and grown throughout the world. However, there is another story, telling that Syrah/Shiraz grape variety originates from the city of Shiraz in Persia. Despite different ideas about the origin of Shiraz, today it has adapted to the local Australian climate and soil conditions and also differs from the European Syrah selections.

Western Australia- Margaret River and Great Southern

Western Australia is the largest state in the country. However, territories covered with vineyards are only allocated in the southwest part of the state. The most famous wine area in the region is the Margaret River, which is located in the cooler part of Western Australia near the southwest coast. In the northern and eastern parts of the region, the climate is far too hot and dry to support winemaking. In contrast to the majority of the region, the climate in the southwest corner is cool and temperate due to the nearby ocean and coastal breezes, making it near perfect for viticulture.

Because of the cool sea wind, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon express elegance and freshness here. The Sémillons, Sauvignons, and Chardonnays also impress with their crisp fruit and classic varietal aromas. Local climate also supports the cultivation of Pinot Noir and Riesling. Swan Valley, which is located 25 minutes from Perth invites you to explore its local heritage on a wine tour, enjoy family time, and indulge in a rich fusion of award-winning wines, speciality liqueurs, and delicious treats, including olives, cheeses, jams, nuts, and chocolate.

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New Zealand has fertile soil and an irresistible maritime climate that’s ideal for producing many different types of wines. World-famous whites and reds provide depth and interest to your taste buds while enthusiasts and laymen alike enjoy embracing everything about the local viticulture.

The crisp, fresh wines that come from the land of Kiwi are reminiscent of the sunshine and clean air. They’re top quality and exported worldwide for all to enjoy. However, wineries in New Zealand are a tourist attraction themselves, and nothing compares to enjoying wine in its home country.

New Zealand is mysterious to those of us who live halfway around the world. It’s exotic and captivating. We yearn to visit, but don’t quite know what to expect when we get there. These two islands are in isolation, with their closest neighbor at just about 1000 miles away. That’s Australia, in case you didn’t know. ‘Ello there, Mate!

Because of New Zealand’s geographical location, it has the southernmost and easternmost vineyards in the world. Wine grows all over the two islands from tip to tail and these two small land masses are halfway between the South Pole and the equator.

New Zealand wine is surprisingly well-known, despite the fact that it makes up less than 1% of all of the world’s wine. While New Zealand has been making wine for centuries, the modern history of New Zealand wine only goes back a few decades. Don’t play down the drama, though.

New Zealand’s wine culture has only been recognized in the past 30 years, yet no matter where you go, it would be hard not to find something from this mysterious land. Sauvignon Blanc is a distinctly New Zealand story, but it’s not the only one.

New Zealand Wine History

New Zealand’s history seems short to the rest of the world because these wines have only been available everywhere since the 1980s. The Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir varieties have only been popular since 1990 or so. However, these classic European grape varieties have been growing in New Zealand for two centuries.

Many colonists’ gardens contained grapevines, and in 1840, at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand had already produced and bottled its first wine. The first recorded vineyard was that of Samuel Marsden, who was an Anglican missionary, in 1819.

Scotsman James Busby is the earliest winemaker recorded and he was the first British Resident to inhabit the islands. During a visit from French explorer Dumont d’Urville, Busby gave him a light white wine that d’Urville said was very sparkling and delicious.

Unfortunately, despite efforts to preserve the passion of the winemaking industry in New Zealand, many crops were destroyed by phylloxera aphid, oidium, and prohibition. The wine industry thus faded into almost nothing.

A gradual resurgence of the industry began in the 1920s and by World War II, the wine industry was booming, at least locally. By 1960, many New Zealand winemakers had licenses to sell at more retail outlets.

The 1960s and 1970s saw heavy investment from companies overseas in America and Australia which sparked its worldwide growth and popularity. It also sparked the desire for improved quality with an emphasis on producing sweet, fruity, light wines.

It wasn’t until recently that New Zealand wine drinkers began consuming dry wines with more fervor like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris. Surprisingly, these dry wines account for more Kiwi wine production than sweet and light.

While wineries in New Zealand were originally tasked with serving a small market domestically under the constraints of the highly-regulated local economy, by 1985, many of the restrictions against international sales were lifted.

In 1990, there weren’t quite 100 wineries in New Zealand. Today, there are more than 670. The industry has swollen and is constantly buzzing with excitement over new labels and new faces. Samual Marsden’s prediction two centuries ago that New Zealand would be highly favourable to the vine has been fulfilled in a brilliant way.

New Zealand Wine Varieties

Most New Zealand wine varieties are grown in a number of different regions. Unlike the restrictions placed on European countries, New Zealand doesn’t regulate its wine production to specific regions, although each region produces wines with distinguishing characteristics.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is grown in the regions of Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago, Gisborne, Nelson, Wairarapa, and Canterbury & Waipara. Each region imparts its own style to the production and you’ll find Sauvignon Blanc wines that range from vividly fruity to complex and oaky.

Both Marlborough and Gisborne Sauvignon Blanc are bold, vivid, and tropical. They can be light, zesty, and herbaceous with mineral depths and pungent aromatics. Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc has many of these same qualities with crisp acidity and a dry finish.

Canterbury & Waipara Sauvignon Blanc has the same crisp, fresh, fruity qualities as the previous regions, but it has an interesting structure and more weight. Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc varieties are weighty as well, but use oak fermentation to add body and complexity.

Wairarapa and Nelson Sauvignon Blanc wines are more sophisticated, vivid, perfumed, and poised. They have crisp acidity and mineral textures as well as herbaceous characters and vivacious tropical fruits.

Pinot Noir

New Zealand Pinot Noir comes from Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago, Canterbury & Waipara, Wairarapa, and Nelson regions. Most of these varieties are strongly perfumed and intense. They have rich flavours and complexity.

Flavours range from spicy herbs to lush dark cherry with dark colours, brooding textures, and supple structure.

In Hawke’s Bay, early plantings were used for the production of a sparkling base and it has only been in the last two decades it has grown to be more suited for still wines.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay comes from Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago, Gisborne, Canterbury & Waipara, Nelson, and Auckland regions. Possibly the only thing each region’s Chardonnay has in common is citrus flavours. The rest is unique.

For example, Marlborough produces a wide variety of Chardonnay. Some are completely unoaked while others pull out all the stops when it comes to ageing and complexity. They are well-structured and intense.

Chardonnay is Hawke’s Bay flagship white wine with full body and fine acidity. It’s balanced and rich with a long finish and excellent fruit flavours.

Chardonnay from Central Otago has mineral characters and their fine body, tight structure, and sophistication ages will with elegance and complexity. However, it can be bottled young if preferred.

Gisborne Chardonnay bursts forth on the palate with lush fruit and is rich with delicious simplicity when young, and intense when aged.

Canterbury & Waipara Chardonnay styles vary widely across the region with great body and structure with fine acidity and rich citrus flavours. Auckland Chardonnay also varies in weight across the region with fresh acidity and tropical flavours.

Nelson produces Chardonnay wines that have elegance, complexity, and depth. The fruit is intense and pure and the best Nelson Chardonnay has exceptional longevity.

Red Blends

Hawke’s Bay and Auckland see a variety of stylish red blends. Bordeaux from Hawke’s Bay is powerful, elegant, and ages well. Hawke’s Bay also produces Merlot with plummy depths and rich flavours.

Red blends from Auckland include Merlot that is dense and elegant while Gisborne’s Merlot is flavoursome and fleshy but challenging to grow. Malbec is a more successful blend in this region.

Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris is cultivated in Hawke’s Bay and Auckland. Both are spicy and fresh. Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris has balanced acidity while Auckland’s Pinot Gris is weighty with ripe pear flavours and aromas.

Syrah

Syrah comes from Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, and Auckland regions. Hawke’s Bay Syrah is distinguished and refined with ripe and elegant fruit, lingering spice, and supple tannins.

Wairarapa Syrah is young but elegant, with a spicy backbone. Syrah in this region aims to replace the Merlot and Cabernet blends that are tricky to grow in this climate.

Auckland Syrah is sophisticated and intense. This variety is fostering excitement in the community regarding its pure, elegant, and aromatic expression.

Other Aromatic Wines

Regions like Marlborough, Central Otago, Gisborne, Canterbury & Waipara, Wairarapa, and Nelson produce other aromatic varieties like Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier.

Marlborough produces wines that are pure and vivacious and they range from sweet to dry and lush to taut. Central Otago also produces a wide range but the wines they make are sparkling and fruity.

Gisborne makes these aromatics with well-textured spice while Canterbury & Waipara’s aromatics are bright and fruity. Wairarapa’s long growing season makes late-harvested styles that always impress.

Nelson’s climate is host to a variety of styles, but all have poised acidity, rich flavors, and impressive textures.

New Zealand Wine Regions

New Zealand is full of bright colours, vivid personalities, and contagious energy. This subtropical paradise is home to a lot of sunshine and refreshing sea breezes. The wine regions are diverse, but no vineyard is more than about 80 miles from the ocean.

Each region has its own climatic conditions and unique soil composition. Every subregional characteristic has an opportunity to shine through the varieties of wine produced there. You can identify the wide variety of New Zealand wines by more than just their region, but by the exact soil in which they’re grown.

Marlborough

This climate is cool with high sunshine. There’s not much rainfall and the soil is free draining and moderately fertile. The wines that come from this region are vivid and unique. With a water basin running through and a backdrop of rolling hills and high peaks, the landscape is as elegant as the wine.

Marlborough is most famous for its Sauvignon Blanc that put New Zealand’s wine game front and center in the 1980s. It’s also the country’s largest wine region growing? the entire country’s total vines.

The range of wines found here is great, with intense Chardonnay, sophisticated Pinot Noir, and bright aromatics. Diverse soil creates a large array of styles and each unique subregion has its own meso-climate and soil composition.

• Marlborough Subregions

The Marlborough subregions include Southern Valleys, Wairau Valley, and Awatere Valley. The Southern Valleys are the most important subregions including Ben Morvan, Brancott, Fairhall, Waihopai, and Omaka valleys. The soil is heavy with a lot of clay.

As you head south, it gets colder and drier and many varieties are produced here including exceptional Pinot Noir and aromatics.

The Wairau Valley has gravelly soil and varying rainfall throughout the subregion. It’s generally cooler and drier with early ripeners, so wine produced here is intense with a lot of bodies.

Awatere Valley is very distinct because it extends all the way from the sea inland to the Kaikoura range. It’s cool, dry, and windy with some elevation that produces bright and dramatic wines like Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

Climate and Soil

Throughout the Marlborough region, there’s a lot of sunshine but the temperatures are fairly modest. This is what creates the piercing intensity, acid retention, and sharp expression of their wines.

The mountains protect the region from extreme wind and rain. The cooling sea breezes and long summers allow for a wide variety of styles to thrive. Wines here include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.

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Hawke’s Bay

This second-largest wine region is abundantly sunny. The first grape plantings were in 1851 and since then they’ve earned a reputation for churning out high-quality Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Pinot Noir.

The warmth in this climate lends itself well to a long growing season and very successful dessert wines. The tourism features winery experiences, festivals, and beautiful architecture.

• Hawke’s Bay Subregions

Subregions in Hawke’s Bay include coastal areas, hillsides, alluvial plains, and river valleys. Coastal influences on winemaking include dramatic growing seasons and climates while the hillsides steadily produce classic reds.

The plains contain the earliest wineries of the region and were formed over thousands of years of the Ngaruroro River changing its course. There are plenty of established Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other reds here.

Hawke’s Bay contains four rivers running directly through, creating grape growing diversity and sheltered environments with altitude variations, differing access to sun, and varying soil types. These areas produce excellent Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc.

• Climate and Soil

A lot of sun and heat in the summer produces long growing seasons while the mountains offer protection from wind and frost that can affect growth. Cool, wet weather may cause problems with the growing season, but the soil is well-drained, reducing the impact.

Four rivers mean plenty of different soil types for significant variations in wine styles. From sandy to clay and stones to metal content, each area is different but very fertile. Wines in Hawke’s Bay include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, red blends, Syrah, and Pinot Noir.

Central Otago

These spectacular views produce sophisticated tourism, impressive white wines, and the world’s best Pinot Noir. The first award-winning wine from this region was a Burgundy in 1881. The climate is extreme and produces wines just as intense with plenty of expressions.

• Visiting Central Otago

This southernmost region has large mountains, dramatic skies, and pristine lakes. Queenstown Airport is nearby and there are plenty of tourist activities for any season. Hit the slopes in the winter, go on a winery cycling tour in the summer, and dine at exceptional restaurants anytime.

• Central Otago Subregions

Subregions in this area include Wanaka, Gibbston, Bannockburn, Alexandra, Bendigo, and Cromwell. Each has its own distinct soil type making for a wide range of styles.

Wanaka makes the best Pinot Noir and some very vivid whites. It lies within the mountains north of Queenstown and has some of the most beautiful vineyards. It’s cool and wet while Lake Wanaka helps to mitigate frost and produce very delicate wines.

Gibbston produces light, but very intense wines with great expression. It is situated on the Kawarau Gorge with north-facing hills in a cool climate that causes grapes to ripen later than other subregions.

Bannockburn is on the bank of the Kawarau River and is one of the warmest and driest places in the whole region. Harvest happens almost a full month before the other subregions, which means the wines are complex and distinct.

Alexandra features extreme summers and winters, which makes for vivid, aromatic wines with fine structure.

Bendigo is the warmest of all of Central Otago’s subregions with gentle slopes and stony soils. The summer here is hot, but with cold nights.

Cromwell has vines on lower terraces and along the valley floor at the base of the Pisa mountains. Wines from this subregion are seductive.

• Climate and Soil

Central Otago is the southernmost wine region in the world, but it’s also at the highest altitude in all of New Zealand. This makes for a semi-continental climate where frosts are planned for but vines could also receive long sunshine hours and hot temperatures. Low humidity in the fall coaxes wines of both complexity and purity.

Soil is old silt formed from several ice ages in which glaciers ground the schist into fine flour. Water erosion has created interspersed layers of gravel and sand. All soils are free-draining, but rainfall is minimal.

All soil is rich in minerals and irrigation is a great tool to optimize the quality of the fruit by reducing stress. These factors create premium boutique wines from this region including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, among others.

Gisborne

The fascinating history of this region, as well as the bright sunshine and beautiful landscapes, make for a fantastic place to visit. It’s a remote area, but worth the trip for flavorful, fruit-forward wines. While Chardonnay is dominant, Pinot Gris also enjoys success.

• Climate and Soil

The warm climate here with the highest sunshine hours in all of the country causes grapes to be harvested early. The soil is well-drained and diverse. Some are clay and produce fleshier wines while some are fine silt and make aromatic wines.

Canterbury & North Canterbury

Here, the Southern Alps cascade into expansive lowlands where vintners produce fantastic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. You can see the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Alps to the west. A cool, dry climate with a lot of sunshine makes for a long growing season and expressive wines.

• Visiting Canterbury & North Canterbury

The Christchurch Airport is centrally located within this region and tourism includes many hidden gems. New cycle trails connect many of Waipara Valley’s wineries and dining experiences are high quality.

• Canterbury Subregions

Subregion exploration continues to provide some exciting diversity for the future offerings of the region. Current subregions include Waipara Valley, Canterbury Plains, Waitaki Valley.

Waipara Valley soil is gravel and clay. They produce fantastic Rieslings but recent exploration has revealed distinct Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

The Canterbury Plains are flat with free-draining soil made from gravel and they grow expressive and graceful Pinot Noirs and Rieslings.

The Waitaki Valley has limestone soils and dry falls that make complex, intense fruit wines with a mineral character.

• Climate and Soil

Low rainfall with plenty of sunshine leads to warm summers, hot and dry winds, and sea breezes that occasionally lead to cold fronts. The soil varies from gravel to limestone to clay. Irrigation is necessary here but produces ripe, complex wines.

Wairarapa

Wairarapa is a mouthful, but it has a beautiful meaning. “Glistening waters” perfectly describes its picturesque landscape and exceptional wines. Only 3% of the land here grows vines and they only account for 1% of the country’s total production.

However, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir stand out here, as well as some Syrah, Chardonnay, and dessert wines. Each subregion provides subtle character differences that the discerning palate will enjoy exploring.

Subregions in Wairarapa include Masterton, Gladstone, and Martinborough. Masterton was the first city where grapes were planted more than 100 years ago and it is now the largest town in the region. This subregion has early morning frosts and very hot summer days. Complex, flavorful wines like Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc are the primary varieties.

Gladstone is south of Masterton with a cooler climate and river terraces, but still plenty of suns. Clay soil produces Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

The colonial village of Martinborough is characterized by small vineyards and family producers. It has a cool, dry climate and free-draining soils. Fantastic Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Pinot Noir rival the best of Burgundy here.

Climate and Soil

This region has cool spring, autumn, and winter, with very hot summers and cool nights. This is a fantastic climate for growing grapes and creates intense complexity and character. The soil is silt and gravel with some local limestone.

Nelson

Nelson has a coastal climate with semi-fertile, free-draining soil. It has extended sunlight hours and is known for bountiful orchards. It’s a small region allowing cyclists to visit most wineries in a single day.

The wine roots in Nelson begin in the 1800s thanks to German settlers. Many of the pioneering winemakers of the 1970s are still going strong here today. Other than wine, Nelson has an artistic culture.

Nelson Subregions

The Moutere Hills and Waimea Plains make up the subregions of Nelson. Moutere Hills is wetter and warmer while Waimea Plains is cool and dry. Moutere Hills has rich clay soils that create wines with texture, complexity, and depth. Waimea Plains is known for vibrant aromatics and rich, expressive wines

Nelson is easily New Zealand’s sunniest region with very few clouds in the sky on most days. Variable temperatures encourage character in the wine while many hours of sunlight produce pure fruit flavors.

Soil is gravelly with a clay base and holds water well. These types of soils give wine richness and depth, but the Waimea Plains subregion generally has lighter wines than Moutere Hills. Common varieties here are Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.

Auckland

Auckland is famous for large wine companies and plenty of boutique vineyards that offer a lot of wine variety. There’s something in Auckland for everyone. It’s one of the oldest wine regions in New Zealand and was established shortly after 1900.

Auckland Subregions

Waiheke Island, West Auckland, and Matakana are the three subregions that comprise Auckland. Waiheke Island is known for exciting blends like Cabernet, but more recently, Chardonnay, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Viognier, Pinot Gris, and Montepulciano have come to the forefront.

West Auckland is home to one of the oldest wine families in the country. This warm, fertile region was settled almost 100 years ago and the family still cultivates the land today. Merlot and Chardonnay reign supreme.

Matakana has rolling hills and great tourism. The vines are young, but a balmy climate produces good texture and body in wines like Cabernet, Syrah, and Pinot Gris.

Climate and Soil

Auckland is warm and humid with more rain in the winter. Vines here can be prone to disease. The soil is immensely fertile because of Auckland’s volcanic history.

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