Martinborough may be less high profile than other Kiwi wine regions (it's only small) but the quality of its cool climate wines is second to none. It lies in the southern corner of North Island and is renowned for Pinot Noir. A government report in 1979 had highlighted that the conditions of the region were remarkably similar to Burgundy – free-draining gravel soils, with moderate temperatures and rainfall. Jeremy Corban and Katherine Jacobs founded their beautiful family estate in 2005, after a wine stint in France.
They chose a site in Martinborough's Te Muna valley and planted Pinot Noir. This is their gloriously fragrant, expressive flagship wine. Aged in new oak, it has a lovely balance of ripe fruit, spice and savouriness. Open early.
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Situated in the Alexandra basin of Central Otago, Drumsara produces premium, cool-climate Pinot Noir. Even by their third vintage, they'd clocked up two Trophies for 'Best Pinot Noir'. Enjoy dark cherry fruit with clove and cinnamon complexity.
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New Zealand has been wowing the world with its terrific Sauvignon Blanc whites. It seems wine lovers can’t get enough of it.
This is a refreshingly elegant white from the Holdaway estate in Marlborough. The family started the farm in 1854, buying up land in Wairau and Dillons Point, now two key areas for vines. Their previous vintage was described by Sam Kim in the Wine Orbit as "impressively aromatic" with "excellent concentration, together with terrific fruit purity and vibrancy." And quality in 2021 was even better, so look forward to great tangy-fresh glass. Tasty solo, with seafood, noodles or creamy risotto.
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This off-dry, zesty Riesling comes from the oldest family winery on New Zealand’s South Island – Seifried estate in sunny Nelson, established well before Cloudy Bay. The Aussies make ultra-appetising, lime-fresh Rieslings.