Visit of the Vineyards in New Zealand.

There is little chance that you had already tasted some wine from New Zealand. The Kiwi country produces only a tiny fraction of the world's wine production. Which means that you'll join the society of lucky people who have tasted the wines from the other side of the earth.

Do not mistake yourself, I do not claim to speak to certified oenologists!

This guide is dedicated to people who love wine tasting and who want to discover the main wine regions of the country, and the best wines to order at the restaurant. A selection of the best twenty wineries in the country and a presentation of the amazing “New Zealand Wine Trail” will give you all the cards in hand to organize an exceptional stay.

And the original experiences are legions... Funny French Cars will drive you from one vineyard to another in an authentic vintage Renault 2 CV! The privileged relations between guides and producers guarantee you an exemplary welcome.

And what incredible landscapes! Saint Clair and Rippon Vineyard (my two favorite producers) have in common to have settled their properties in the heart of magnificent regions producing world-class white Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot noirs.

I guess that you naturally want to bring back bottles as souvenirs of your stay. We will review the quantities authorized by the customs and the duty-free opportunities for your last-minute shopping.

I present the recommended wines (in order of importance) for each region and the best nearby tourist locations to help you plan your stay.

At the northern tip of the South Island, the country's largest wine region is located close to the Abel Tasman National Park.

The Marlborough has a dry climate, one of the sunniest in New Zealand, and produces one of the best white Sauvignons in the world.

Turquoise lakes and snow-capped peaks: the vineyards of Otago grow in the heart of New Zealand's most photogenic landscape. Wine tasting and cellars visits are a must-do.

The second-largest wine region in the country is on the east coast of the North Island. Vineyards and bicycle paths are the main attractions of this bay where tourism activities are, however, less numerous than anywhere else.

Located at the south of Auckland, this hilly agricultural region with a mild climate recalls the Shire from the Lord of the Rings (you can even visit the village of Hobbiton). The Waikato remains a small wine-growing region, but its vineyards extend every year.

Auckland is not only the largest city in the country, but it is also the name of an entire region with a hundred vineyards. The shops in Waiheke Island attract a growing number of visitors, although the quality of wines is not the best in the country.

Fourth wine region of New Zealand. Famous for its tasty Chardonnay, Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island is not a very touristy area, although the Te Urewera National Park is worth a visit.

Heavenly region of the South Island, Nelson hardly suffers from the comparison with the neighboring Marlborough. If the purpose of your visit is related to the Abel Tasman National Park,you will have the pleasure of savoring exceptional wines after a hiking day.

The Canterbury is a region on the east coast of the South Island with landscapes sometimes a bit dearie but often spectacular.

The vineyards have been established only for a few decades and the wines obtained begin to impose themselves.

Just one hour's drive from the capital Wellington.. This small region of the North Island has a low production (only 1% of the annual production of the country) but produces exceptional wines.

Historically the first wine-producing region in New Zealand where missionaries planted the country's first vineyard in 1819. This tourist region has a subtropical climate that gives very original wines, if not excellent.

It took only thirty years to see a real revolution. British settlers introduced the vine in the 19th century, but the wine produced was disappointing (to say the least) during decades. Several major changes in the production allowed to turn mediocre table wines into authentic masterpieces.

Formerly mocked and known to a few initiates, New Zealand wines are now famous throughout the world. The Sauvignon Blanc (probably the best in the world), and to a lesser extent the Pinot Noir, have imposed themselves even if it is still rare to find them in the rest of the world.

Here are the eight best grape varieties in New Zealand, the great classics that you can order without hesitation in a restaurant. I will present first the white wines that have mostly contributed to international recognition. We will serve the red wines in a second time.

The most awarded wine from New Zealand, recognized as one of the best in the world. A success all the more phenomenal as the first grape varieties date only from 1973. Two thirds of the wines produced in the country are now white Sauvignons, and if there must be only one wine to taste during your stay, this is the one!

A popular wine in New Zealand, produced in all regions, but which is hardly known outside the country despite its undeniable qualities. The main reason is that the Chardonnay's popularity is in decline in the whole world since about fifteen years. The best vintages are bottled at Villa Maria in the Auckland region.

A wine produced almost exclusively on the South Island where the climate and the dry autumns are favorable. The enthusiasm for this wine is confirmed since a few years, and the production regularly increases.

Native from Alsace in France, this variety does not manage to impose itself among the great wines. Without necessarily going so far as to bring a bottle of it back to your country (keep in mind, however, that this wine is almost impossible to find abroad), you would be well inspired to taste the Gewürztraminer in restaurant: it could be the revelation of your stay.

A wine with a special origin, because it owes its existence to a mutation operated from a Pinot Noir. Demanding, the grape has found grace in the exceptional microclimate of the Otago. Popular since the 90s, this is now the third most consumed wine in the country.

The only on being able to compete with its French counterpart, the Pinot Noir of New Zealand is the second most consumed wine in the country. It benefits from a wide variety of soils and climates to flourish in five different regions. This is simply the best red wine of the country.

Two wines sufficiently similar to be presented together. Their character “all-purpose” (a compliment in a way) explains their success with a production that competes with Pinot Noir although quartered on the North Island.

One of the first grape varieties planted in New Zealand at the beginning of the 17th century. Syrah is a wine whose consumption increases every year. Its production is still limited, but it would be regrettable not to give it a chance.

Saint Clair's award-winning wines are countless, with trophies at the 2005 International Wine and Spirit Competition and the prestigious London International Wine Challenge of 2008. An insolent success, rewarding not only Sauvignon Blanc but also Pinot Noir . More recently, Saint Clair was again voted best wine producer in New Zealand in 2010 and 2011.

Dazzling success for a young producer whose vines grow in the splendid Marlborough region of the South Island. The spectacular setting attracts wine enthusiasts like the participants of the annual 21 km marathon held in the vineyards and whose recipes are donated to the fight against cancer.

With such a reputation, one could fear prohibitive rates...

Of course, Saint Clair sells only high-quality wines, but the prices are reasonable and you can consider bringing back some bottles as a souvenir of your stay in New Zealand.

You will, of course, find cheaper wines, but even if you plan to bring back bottles as a souvenir, make sure to choose a wine which is at least of medium-quality. Nothing forces you to buy with your eyes closed, and I recommend you to participate in a tasting first.

Reopened after work, the Saint Clair Cellar Door offers wine tastings.

I suggest to have lunch on site, the menu having been specially designed to be in harmony with the wines of the producer.

Set on the hillside of the Lake Wanaka, which are surrounded by mountains carved during the Ice Age, Rippon Vineyard has made the fortune of Nick Mills, his happy owner since the 70s. Yet the presence of vineyards at an altitude of 400 m and orientated at 45 ° South is a miracle!

The secret of Rippon Vineyard lies in the microclimate of Central Otago, perfectly adapted to viticulture. The wines obtained are intense, rich in aromas and of exemplary stability. A success all the more remarkable that the production is done without fertilizers nor pesticides!

Like Saint Clair, Rippon Vineyard also organizes events in the heart of its vineyard.

The annual February festival welcomes artists from all over the world. The rest of the year, you can taste the wines of Rippon served with plates of cheeses while enjoying the view on the lake Wanaka.

Ordering a glass of Pinot Noir and drinking it in front of such a heavenly landscape is a unique and unforgettable experience.

If the irresistible desire to buy a few bottles takes you by surprise, do not forget to visit the cellar where you can enjoy a free tasting.

All these famous wine producers offer tastings, often for free or for a few dollars. It is not uncommon to find a restaurant open on site to welcome travelers. I confess a weakness for Sauvignon Blanc, but if the following list mostly contains Marlborough properties, this is only justice because these are the best in the country.

I would like to share with you my latest favorite: the vineyard tour organized by Funny French Car.

At the origin of this original concept, we find Julie and Deane who took pleasure in touring the vineyards of Otago in a Citroën 2 CV and now propose to serve as a guide aboard their old vintage French car.

The landscapes are magnificent and you will learn more about the history of the country in the space of a day or half a day than during the rest of your stay.

You can choose between a tour of the cellars of three hours and another one of six hours which turns out to be a real gourmet stroll.

According to the program (available in detail on the official website), the visit of the wine cellars will include a stopover at the Tarras Village (the paradise of merino sheep wool sweaters), passing by the old-gold mines of Bendigo, and a visit to a famous ice cream shop with homemade perfumes.

If you decide to embark on a trip in a vintage car to discover the great wines of the region, I reassure you immediately: the guide who will serve as your driver as well will remain sober.

You will only have to let yourself be guided and enjoy the scenery, unless you want to try to drive (but you'll have to seek permission, there is no guarantee you'll be allowed...).

There is little chance that the entire route (120 cellars to visit in total, that's just impossible) interests you if you discover New Zealand for the first time. On the other hand, it is quite easy to include a few stages of the “Classic Wine Trail” in your schedule.

It is worth remembering that we are talking about tasting here. Even if you enjoy drinking a glass of wine for real from time to time, the spittoon will be mandatory, especially since you will be driving between cellars (and on the left side of the road...).

Some people are embarrassed to taste a wine in the presence of the landlord without buying him a few bottles out of politeness. But the principle of tastings does not involve any compulsory purchase and you will be served a simple glass bottom. There is an infinity of combinations, but for enthusiasts who wish to follow the “Classic Wine Trail”, I recommend a six-day itinerary.

One finds bottles imported at Marks & Spencer, for example, but I let you imagine the real value of a 7 euros wine that has covered 20,000 km by boat! These are medium or low-quality wines, calibrated for the daily lunches and we are far from the quality of a Sauvignon Blanc de Saint Clair or a Pinot Noir from Rippon Vineyard.

The most practical solution is to have your bottles shipped directly from New Zealand, but you'll pay nearly $390 of shipping costs for a simple box of twelve bottles!

If your means are more restricted, all you can do is to pack bottles and bring them back in your luggage.

Producers often provide appropriate protective packaging and bubble wrap for a few euros. But be careful not to exceed the maximum weight of baggage tolerated by your airline (about 30 kg on Singapore Airlines). And do not forget that bottles are not allowed in the cabin!

The duty-free shop at the airport is an emergency solution, but be careful to keep the packaging sealed (especially if you plan to visit a city during a stopover) and always state your final destination to the merchant.

To leave New Zealand without having tasted a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Noir, seems to me as improbable as to cross the country without seeing sheep. and if you still do not thirst after reading this article, you just dislike wine or I failed in my mission! I give the mike to our friend Ben for the traditional question-and-answer part where you'll get practical advice. And if you discover an exceptional wine during your trip, do not forget to let us know!