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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
TINPOT HUT Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2023
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Ready to drink

Combining all the best characteristics of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, this is clean, super fresh and perfumed with aromas of passion fruit, melon and gooseberry.

Shop Price: £19.49
75.0CL
In Stock
White Wine
Greywacke SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough 2023
New Zealand :: Marlborough :: Wairau Valley
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Ready to drink

One of Marlborough's most celebrated Sauvignon Blanc wines, from the winemaker who put the variety on the map - Kevin Judd.

Shop Price: £20.99
75.0CL
In Stock
Red Wine
Waipara West RAM PADDOCK 2014
New Zealand :: Wairapa
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Body: d - Medium to Full
Drink now, but will keep

Amazing value Bordeaux blend from New Zealand

Shop Price: £21.99
75.0CL
Only 1 left
White Wine
Isabel Sauvignon Blanc 2022
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Drink now, but will keep

Beautifully elegant Sauvignon made in a less gushy style.

Shop Price: £21.99
75.0CL
In Stock
Red Wine
Saint Clair Marlborough PINOT NOIR 2021
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Pinot Noir
Body: b - Light to Medium
Ready to drink

Dark garnet with aromas of mixed dark fruits, fresh cherries and a hint of prunes and spice.
A rich palate with a lovely fine structure displaying a medley of berry fruit flavours, cedar, spice and a long persistent finish incorporating flavours of freshly ground coffee beans and toasty oak.

Shop Price: £21.99
75.0CL
Only 10 left
Red Wine
OFFER - Escarpment PINOT NOIR MARTINBOROUGH 2018
New Zealand :: Martinborough
Pinot Noir
Body: b - Light to Medium
Drink now, but will keep

20% OFF!
Was £28.99, NOW £23.19
Perfume, elegant fruit flavours, and soft ripe tannins are all hallmarks of this exceptional Pinot Noir from Escarpment, crafted in a Burgundian style.

Shop Price: £23.19
75.0CL
In Stock
White Wine
Dog Point SAUVIGNON BLANC MARLBOROUGH 2022
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Ready to drink

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

Shop Price: £23.99
75.0CL
Only 1 left
White Wine
Kim Crawford Spitfire Small Parcels Sauvignon Blanc 2022
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 1 - Very Dry
Ready to drink

Named after a former WWII air force base where the grapes are grown, this is a real ‘Spitfire’ of a wine. Selected from the two finest small blocks of Raparua’s Murphy vineyard, this is a rich, full Sauvignon Blanc.

Shop Price: £24.99
75.0CL
In Stock
Red Wine
Waipara West PINOT NOIR 2014
New Zealand :: Canterbury :: Waipara
Pinot Noir
Body: c - Medium
Drink now, but will keep

This Pinot Noir is ruby red in colour. It displays sweet dark cherries with hints of plum, pencil shavings and toasty oak. An elegant, medium-bodied wine with well rounded tannins and a balanced persistent finish. The wine has potential to develop further complexity with careful cellaring.

Shop Price: £24.99
75.0CL
Out of stock
Red Wine
Wild Earth PINOT NOIR Central Otago 2020
New Zealand :: Otago
Pinot Noir
Body: b - Light to Medium
Drink now, but will keep

This wine is bright garnet in colour with aromas of raspberry, sweet cherry, cedar, wild thyme and mushroom. The palate is rich in texture and complemented by red and black berry, wild herb and earthy flavours. This Pinot Noir is well structured with silky, enticing layers.

Shop Price: £31.99
75.0CL
Only 6 left
Red Wine
Escarpment Te Rehua Pinot Noir Martinborough 2016
New Zealand :: Hawke's Bay
Pinot Noir
Body: b - Light to Medium
Drink now, but will keep

The deep alluvial gravels of the Martinborough Terraces and a blend of clones grown in a very sheltered spot produce this classic example of New World Pinot.

Shop Price: £33.99
75.0CL
Out of stock
White Wine
Greywacke WILD SAUVIGNON Marlborough 2022
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Drink now, but will keep

A New Zealand sauvignon unlike many others. Fermented in old oak with wild yeasts, this wine has taken on a more complex character, with bold passionfruit and rosemary notes on the nose, creamy medium-bodied palate with peach, melon and savoury flavours. Distinctive and delicious.

Shop Price: £33.99
75.0CL
Only 9 left
Red Wine
Escarpment KUPE Pinot Noir 2017
New Zealand :: Martinborough
Pinot Noir
Body: b - Light to Medium
Drink now, but will keep

Fruit for Kupe Pinot Noir comes from Escarpment’s close-planted vineyard on Te Muna Road, Martinborough, vines which have been their pride and joy since being planted in 1999.

Shop Price: £43.99
75.0CL
In Stock
Red Wine
Escarpment Pinot Noir MAGNUM 2015
New Zealand :: Martinborough
Pinot Noir
Body: b - Light to Medium
Drink now, but will keep

NOTE: This is a Magnum (150cl)
Perfume, elegant fruit flavours, and soft ripe tannins are all hallmarks of this exceptional Pinot Noir from Escarpment, crafted in a Burgundian style.

Shop Price: £57.99
150.0CL
Out of stock
Sparkling White
Cloudy Bay Pelorus Blanc de Blanc NV
New Zealand :: Marlborough
Chardonnay
Ready to drink

Cloudy Bay is less famous for its fizz, but we think these are terrific wines and just as good (if not better) than their famous Sauvignon Blanc. This bottle is made only from Chardonnay.

Shop Price: £26.99
75.0CL
In Stock