Wine from New Zealand

It's hard to believe that the New Zealand wine industry as we know it only really took itself seriously no more than 30 years ago. Grapevines were first planted by missionaries in 1819 and the first wine produced has been attributed to an Englishman, James Busby in 1835. For the next 140 years the industry remained dormant until the early 1970's when Sauvignon Blanc was experimented with and the first commercial vineyards were planted in Marlborough. It became evident that Sauvignon Blanc suited the climate and soil and soon the traditional sheep-farming region of Marlborough was rapidly acquired by ambitious winemakers. A plethora of boutique wineries now exist on both the North and South Islands and along with Sauvignon Blanc now produce quality Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir. Cloudy Bay's worldwide success has created a platform for the New Zealand wine industry as a whole.