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Although vines have been planted in New Zealand for the best part of 200 years it is only in the last 30 or so that quality wine has been produced. In that time the country has become famous for producing what must rate as some of the world's finest Sauvignon Blanc, and a vast choice of wine styles are available from powerful reds to intensely sweet dessert stickies.
It was James Busby who first planted vines in New Zealand in the Bay of Islands. This Scotsman is often referred to as the 'father of Australian viticulture' such was his expertise with vines after studying the art of wine making in France. French missionaries planted more vines, partly as a result of the need for sacramental wine, and gradually the trend spread around the country. It was in fact Croatian settlers around West Auckland who were responsible for larger scale planting of vines around 1890, and they continued to make wine well into the 1930s. Their importance in the industry's development should be noted.
The problems caused by oidium in the late 1800s (also known as 'powdery mildew') and phylloxera, plus the that fact that many wine consumers drank 'old world' wines, prevented expansion to any great extent. It should also be noted that the preferred drink for the masses was, and still is, beer. Strict licensing laws didn't help matters as the prohibition movement gathered momentum in the late years of the nineteenth century. At its peak alcohol was very nearly banned altogether during the First World War - prohibition was actually voted in but was fortunately overturned by the votes of returning servicemen! The downside is that the prohibition laws sent a great many wine producers out of business. A few continued and the period between the wars saw a slow increase in wine production as new vineyards were planted. Many vines were American hybrids which was New Zealand's preferred solution to the Phylloxera blight (as opposed to most other viticulturists choice of grafting European vines onto American rootstocks), as they were resistant to the troublesome root louse. As recently as 1960 the American Isabella vine was the most widely planted grape variety.
When import restrictions were lifted in the late 1940s the New Zealand wine industry suffered as a result of decent Australian wines flooding the country. The harsh wine laws continued to determine exactly how wine was distributed; until 1948, when single bottle sales were permitted, wine had to be sold through hotels and only in somewhat large quantities. Restaurant licences were granted in 1960, BYO was permitted from 1976, and gradually the number of outlets selling wine increased. Overseas investment came in the form of Australia's McWilliams and Penfolds who both set up operations in New Zealand. When government legislation designed to push the country's wine industry into the modern age was implemented in the mid 1980s New Zealand emerged as the quality producer we now know. This involved the uprooting and replanting of a quarter of the country's vineyards - Hawke's Bay and Gisborne were much improved as inferior varieties such as Muller-Thurgau were replaced. More attention was paid to what went into the bottle and quality rosé considerably to combat the imported Australian which had become very popular. Domestic producers looked overseas for a new market; one of the most positive results of the new found quality was on the export side which from just over $1m to over $18m between 1983 to 1990, mainly due to the new wave of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. By 1997 it was up to a staggering $75m with a large proportion of exported wine heading for the UK. More new laws were passed which allowed supermarkets to sell wine and before the end of the century grocery and other similar outlets were responsible for over 40% of domestic wine sales.

The scale of development is an outstanding success story and several New Zealand wineries are household names for many of us. It may be comparatively recently that the wines of New Zealand are showing their true potential (despite the somewhat ignorant words on Kiwi reds by Robert Parker!), but with exports rising and respect growing all the time who knows what the Kiwis can achieve in the new century?

Search Results

White Wine
MoKoBLACK SAUVIGNON BLANC, Marlborough 2010
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc

Zesty citrus with white stone fruits. Hints of gooseberry rolling into a full layered palate finishing with a lovely balance of texture, weight and clean refreshing finish.

£8.49
75.0CL
In Stock
White Wine
Bishops Leap SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Ready to drink

A pale gold wine with a green hint. On the nose, it is fresh with notes of nettles and almonds. It is clean and fresh on the palate, with rounded flavours reminiscent of guava and mango.

£9.99
75.0CL
Out of stock
Rosé Wine
Saint Clair PINOT NOIR ROSE 2010
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Pinot Noir
Ready to drink

Delicious summer drinking - red berries, cherry and raspberry on the palate. Clean finish and balanced acidity.

£10.95
75.0CL
Only 6 left
White Wine
Waipara West SAUVIGNON 2010
New Zealand :: Wairapa
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Ready to drink

A classically styled New Zealand sauvignon; asparagus and new mown grass on the nose, full and rich with citrus and lime in the mouth, and a long balanced finish.

£10.99
75.0CL
Only 5 left
White Wine
Saint Clair Tuatara Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Ready to drink

This is a star buy for the price - powerful fruit with an underlying elegance and all the characterisics you'd expect - gooseberries with hints of tropical fruit and a delicious full crispness on the palate.

£10.99
75.0CL
Out of stock
Red Wine
Waipara West Ram Paddock 2006
New Zealand :: Wairapa
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Body: c - Medium
Drink now, but will keep

Amazing value Bordeaux blend from New Zealand

£10.99
75.0CL
In Stock
White Wine
Alpha Domus UNOAKED CHARDONNAY HAWKS BAY 2008
New Zealand :: Hawke's Bay
Chardonnay
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Drink now, but will keep

A classically New World tropical fruit orientated Chardonnay, with no oak used.

£11.25
75.0CL
Out of stock
White Wine
Alpha Domus Sauvignon Blanc 2008
New Zealand :: Hawke's Bay
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Ready to drink

Crisp and fruity with a penetrating finish.

£11.25
75.0CL
Only 10 left
White Wine
Waipara West RIESLING WAIPARA 2008
New Zealand :: Canterbury
Riesling
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Drink now, but will keep

The wine displays floral and lime aromas on the nose. The palate is full and rounded with an oily texture and a persistent dry finish. A youthful Riesling that will continue to evolve with careful cellaring.

£11.49
75.0CL
Only 10 left
Red Wine
Tuatara Bay PINOT NOIR 2010
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Pinot Noir
Body: c - Medium
Ready to drink

The ripe full nose is followed by a mouthful of rounded fruit in a light easy style.

£11.50
75.0CL
Out of stock
White Wine
Escarpment PINOT GRIS MARTINBOROUGH 2010
New Zealand :: Martinborough
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio/Rulander
Sweetness: 3 - Soft Dry
Drink now, but will keep

Powerful opulent fruit combine beautifully with barrel fermentation in this dry Burgundian inspired Pinot Gris. Flavours are reminiscent of ripe pears and white stone fruit with a delightful soft texture, ensuring a long commanding finish.

£12.49
75.0CL
Only 5 left
White Wine
Kim Crawford Pinot Gris 2010
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio/Rulander
Sweetness: 3 - Soft Dry
Drink now, but will keep

A medium to full bodied alternative to Chardonnay!

£12.49
75.0CL
Only 9 left
White Wine
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2011
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Ready to drink

Complete with 'Stelvin closure' (that's screw cap to the rest of us!) comes this fruit-laden New World Sancerre!

£12.49
75.0CL
Only 9 left
White Wine
Saint Clair SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 1 - Very Dry
Ready to drink

This wine has a full yet elegant palate with subtle minerality.

£13.49
75.0CL
In Stock
Red Wine
Alpha Domus SYRAH Hawkes Bay 2008
New Zealand :: Hawke's Bay
Syrah/Shiraz
Body: d - Medium to Full

A fruit-driven Syrah with aromas of liquorice, black pepper, plum and floral notes.

£13.99
75.0CL
Only 4 left
White Wine
Isabel DRY RIESLING 2008
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Riesling
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Drink now, but will keep

This is a subtle, fine and delicate wine - yet very aromatic and perfumed; distinctively fruity with bright citrus aromas. The palate offers a combination of fresh lemon blossom, peach, apricot and ripe pears. All this follows with a touch of honey and hints of nougat - adding balance, complexity and great mouth feel. Isabel Rieslings are renowned for their dry and crisp finish matched by richness of texture, with a dash of 'lime margarita'!

£13.99
75.0CL
Only 1 left
White Wine
Alpha Domas VIOGNIER HAWKES BAY 2010
New Zealand :: Hawke's Bay
Viognier
Sweetness: 3 - Soft Dry
Drink now, but will keep

Classically aromatic and with a firm peach/apricot character this is super stuff with a clean finish and persistent flavour.

£13.99
75.0CL
Out of stock
White Wine
Isabel SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 1 - Very Dry
Ready to drink

In true Isabel fashion, this wine delivers concentrated flavour in an elegant package.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has become iconic in the world of wine and Isabel's offering is right up there with the very best. Isabel believes that its wines are ‘a strong expression of the individual style’ of the ‘vineyard soil and site’, which results in the flavours of lychee and passion fruit busting through in this wine.

£14.49
75.0CL
Only 3 left
White Wine
Kim Crawford SPITFIRE MKII SAUVIGNON MA 2011
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 1 - Very Dry
Ready to drink

This wine from a small parcel is full of tropical fruit and zingy acidity.There are explosive aromas of tropical fruit, melons and passionfruit with a hint of herbaceousness. This follows through on the palate, which is rich and full and a mixture of sweet fruit and zingy acidity. The wine finishes well and has great length.

£14.99
75.0CL
Only 6 left
Red Wine
Alpha Domus Aplha Domus NAVIGATOR Cabernet Blend Haw 2006
New Zealand :: Hawke's Bay
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot
Body: d - Medium to Full
£14.99
75.0CL
Only 5 left
White Wine
Greywacke SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough 2011
New Zealand :: Marlborough :: Wairau Valley
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry

‘Like opening a bag of tree-ripened nectarines’ (Kevin Judd) Deliciously aromatic with a spicy twist and a zesty grapefruit hint. The palate is succulent and tangy – long and concentrated, finishing with a hint of flinty minerality.

£15.99
75.0CL
In Stock
White Wine
Trinity Hill Dog Point SAUVIGNON BLANC MARLBOROUGH 2010
New Zealand :: Hawke's Bay
Sauvignon Blanc
Ready to drink

Absolutely vibrant stuff. A core of passion fruit, gooseberry and melon and a lively, zippy finish.

£15.99
75.0CL
In Stock
White Wine
Isabel Chardonnay 2007
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Chardonnay
Sweetness: 3 - Soft Dry
Drink now, but will keep

Tightly structured flavours, fairly pronounced straw-yellow colour, crispy and bright with soft dryness and nutty bouquet. Concentration of fresh fruit, toasty oak with firm, but ripe acidity. Notes of citrus and green apple finish. Elegant floral notes as well nose honey palate.
The 2007 vintage has a sweet, balanced mouth feeling through well-integrated acidity highlighting a natural complexity.

£15.99
75.0CL
Only 4 left
Red Wine
Escarpment PINOT NOIR MARTINBOROUGH 2009
New Zealand :: Martinborough
Pinot Noir
Body: c - Medium
Drink now, but will keep

Ripe berry fruits combine beautifully with hints of fennel and feral flavours. Inspired by the classic wines of Burgundy, this Pinot Noir is a tribute to Martinborough's unique terroir.

£19.75
75.0CL
Only 7 left
Red Wine
Isabel PINOT NOIR 2008
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Pinot Noir
Body: b - Light to Medium
Drink now, but will keep

Good Pinot nose with hints of chocolate and pepper which leads to a palate of pure, ripe raspberry fruit.
Beautifully balanced with smooth, ripe tannins, zippy balanced acidity, and good concentration and length.

£19.75
75.0CL
Only 7 left