Gisborne vineyards on New Zealand’s east coast. Credit: New Zealand Winegrowers.
Compared to Sauvignon Blanc’s stratospheric rise, New Zealand’s most-planted red variety has had a somewhat slower burn.
The first Pinot Noir was planted in 1889 in Hawke’s Bay, but things didn’t really get going until 1980s pioneers such as Martinborough’s Dry River and Ata Rangi, and Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley and Rippon, lit the path.
In 2023, there was 5,678ha of Pinot Noir planted (NZ Wine 2023 annual report), representing just 6.1% of production and 2.9% of exports, but the best wines are sought-after globally.
New Zealand is a long, thin string of mountainous islands surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Regions just a few hundred kilometres apart can have significantly different growing conditions due to rain shadows, prevailing winds and river systems.
Scroll down for notes and scores for 40 brilliant NZ Pinot Noir recent…
Source : https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/premium/new-zealand-pinot-noir-vintage-report-and-40-new-releases-rated-540081/
