Nestled to the southeast of Australia lies New Zealand, a country well known for making remarkable Sauvignon Blanc. The majority of the country’s vineyards are located on the east shores of the two main islands and are the southernmost of any wine countries in the world. The cool, maritime climate gives New Zealand wines a distinct ability to produce crisp, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc and delicate, earthy Pinot Noir.

Winemaking in maritime climates, where vineyards are located near large bodies of water, benefit from a more stable temperature than those in continental climates. The ocean on the eastern coast of New Zealand helps to moderate the temperature in the vineyards, providing cool breezes during the summertime. Throughout the summer, the ocean warms up and retains the heat into the fall season, adding a few extra weeks for the grapes to grow on the vine. This extended ripening period results in the development of distinct complexity that bursts with fresh, vibrant flavors.

The Regions

New Zealand is comprised of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island. At the northern tip of the North Island, is Hawke's Bay, the warmest region in New Zealand. This region is known for the diversity of the soil, which results in a variety of styles of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The mild climate is also perfect for producing fuller bodied Gewürztraminer that have notes of spice and rich stone fruit flavors.

On the south tip of the Northern Island is the region of Wairarapa, where the notable town of Martinborough is located. This region is known for producing Pinot Noir that is similar to wine produced in Burgundy, France because of the soil similarities between the two regions.

Heading toward the north tip of the South Island, lies Marlborough, which is where many of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are produced. The influence of the maritime climate is strong in this region, allowing for the Sauvignon Blanc grapes to develop to their full potential. Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Gris also thrive here.

Lastly, the southernmost region, known as Central Otago, has the coolest climate, but is known for producing Pinot Noirs that are vibrant and juicy. This may be a bit counterintuitive as these characteristics usually indicate that the Pinot Noir has been produced in a warm region. However, since the region is located inland and is protected by mountain ranges, it has more of a continental climate compared to the other regions in New Zealand. During the growing season, this region experiences extended hours of sun during the day and cooler temperatures at night, which are critical in the development of juicy, complex, full bodied Pinot Noir.

I could not decide which Sauvignon Blanc I wanted to try for my wine tasting this month, so I decided to pick up three different ones from Wegmans in Chestnut Hill, MA for a group tasting with my friends! I also wanted to try a Pinot Noir, which proved a bit harder to find. However, the Total Wine in Burlington, MA had one option in stock when I visited.

Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough

Lobster Reef

Acid, acid, ACID! This wine was a lip puckering treat with a long lasting finish. On the nose, there were many distinguishable notes of citrus and fresh fruit, most notably, lemon, lime, guava and passionfruit. There were also notes of freshly cut grass, green bell pepper and petrol, which are the key indicators of Sauvignon Blanc. The acid in this wine was HIGH, but very refreshing on the simple, light, dry body. The long finish with gentle notes of Meyer lemon is what impressed me the most, especially for the price. Like the Torrontés I tasted from Salta last month, this wine is also going on my "hot summer day" wine list.

My Rating 4.25 / 5 - excellent value for the price. It hit all the key notes that a Sauvignon Blanc from this region should have and the finish impressed me!

The Details
Sweetness: Dry
Vintage: 2022
Alcohol: 12.5%
Label: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Lobster Reef
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Varietals: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $11

Kuranui

The mellow notes of Meyer Lemon in this wine were more subtle and round compared to the Lobster Reef. There were also notes of grass and white stone fruits, but they were not as pronounced. On the palate, notes of crisp granny smith apples and lemon/lime citrus complimented the medium (-) body of the wine. The acid was more controlled and allowed for the notes on the palate to shine through. This wine also had a long finish with defined notes of granny smith apple.

My Rating 4.25 / 5 - compared to the Lobster Reef, this wine was more subtle. It was interesting to compare the two different expressions of Sauvignon Blanc.

The Details
Sweetness: Dry
Vintage: 2022
Alcohol: 12.5%
Label: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Kuranui
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Varietals: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $13

McBride Sisters

In the glass, this wine was expressive of an excellent wine. There were notes of peach blossom, wet stone, roses, lychee, grass and subtle lemon lime. However, the notes did not follow through on the palate and the finish was not as long as the other two Sauvignon Blancs that we tasted. The wine was very well made and well balanced, but I was disappointed that the aromas did not follow through on the palate or on the finish.

My Rating 3.5 / 5 - the palate did not live up to the expectations set by the nose. A well balanced wine, but I was left wanting more.

The Details
Sweetness: Dry
Vintage: 2021
Alcohol: 13%
Label: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: McBride Sisters
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Varietals: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $15

Pinot Noir from Central Otago

As soon as I opened the bottle, I was bombarded with notes of earth and red raspberry. As I smelled the wine in my glass, notes of forest floor, spice, plum, and currants became apparent. As it opened up, there were also notes of cedar. On the palate, the acid is high, which is what I expected from a wine from Central Otago because of the southern latitude. The tannin was also medium (+), another signature of the long, sunny days developing a thicker skin on the grapes. The body and tannin were also medium on my tongue, a bit heavier than the typical Pinot Noir from cooler regions. The primary and tertiary aromas followed through on the palate, but the wine lacked complexity. It was very linear, straight forward and had a medium length finish of red raspberry.

My Rating 4 / 5 - Initially, I had this wine rated a bit lower, but as it opened up, it grew on me. Overall it was a good wine, but was not outstanding and I thought it lacked the luscious juicy characteristics that are the signature of the Central Otago Pinot Noir. It was definitely more expressive than Old World style (ie Burgundy), but not as bold as ones from the New World (ie. California).

The Details
Sweetness: Dry
Vintage: 2020
Alcohol: 13.2%
Label: Pinot Noir
Producer: Rabbit Ranch
Region: Central Otago, New Zealand
Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Price: $32

If there is one thing to know about wines from New Zealand, it is that the Sauvignon Blancs are crisp, acidic, refreshing and available at a very affordable price! In the future, I'm keeping my eyes out for the famous, ground breaking wine that put New Zealand on the map in the 1980's, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. I would also love to do a side by side tasting of a Pinot Noir from Martinborough, NZ and from Burgundy, France to compare the two!

What did you try this month! I would love to hear in the comments below. :)