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New Zealand Wine
New Zealand produces only 1% of the world’s wine, but has an international presence and reputation that far exceeds that, due to its diversity, world-leading focus on sustainability, and of course its distinctly New Zealand expression in the glass.
The earliest history of planting vines (vitis vinifera) inNew Zealand dates back to 1819 when Samuel Marsden, a missionary to New Zealand, arrived in Kerikeri, Northland with 100 vines that he went on to plant at the mission station. In the 1840s, British resident, James Busby made the first recorded wine in New Zealand. The grapes were from a small vineyard that he planted at Waitangi and it was his enthusiasm for grape growing that went on to encourage others to follow in his footsteps.
There were a number of significant immigrants to New Zealand from Europe that went on to set up vineyards in different regions across the country. They each contributed in their own right to the very early establishment of vineyards and winemaking in New Zealand.
During the 1940s, phylloxera destroyed many vineyards in New Zealand and some winegrowers thought that the vinifera hybrid wasn’t suitable for growth in New Zealand and decided to replace them with the hardier European American hybrid vines. Unfortunately, even though these vines were more resistant to disease the quality of grapes was inferior.
It wasn’t until the 1960s that the vitis vinifera vines made a comeback in New Zealand and high quality wines were again produced. Shortly after there was also a switch from fortified wines to table wines in New Zealand. In 1983, Müller Thurgau was the most planted white grape variety and Cabernet Sauvignon the most planted red variety. Since then, there has been a definite change in grape varieties planted in New Zealand since 1990.
Sauvignon Blanc is now the most widely planted white variety with Chardonnay following in second place. Other white varieties such as Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewurztraminer have dramatically increased their production levels and lesser known varieties such as Viognier are now being grown in small quantities. A surge in production of Pinot Noir has meant this variety has taken over the role of the most widely planted red variety in New Zealand. Syrah is another red variety that has grown considerably, with Merlot plantings strong, though no longer growing.