New Zealand new release wines: 15 reds and whites to buy

It is that time of year when the New Zealand new release Sauvignon Blancs are hitting international shelves. The 2022 wines are now available in UK retail and – after the meagre harvest in 2021 that was almost a global Sauvignon Blanc shortage – the 2022 harvest was plentiful.

At a new release tasting in London in November, however, it was clear that what needs highlighting most are varieties beyond the behemoth that is Sauvignon Blanc, which represents 72% of New Zealand’s wine production and 85% of its total wine exports.

Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of 15 New Zealand new release wines

Albariño, Viognier, Riesling and Grüner Veltliner jumped out for their sheer personality – no surprise given how Sauvignon Blanc proved how wonderfully suited these temperate to cool islands in the South Pacific are for aromatic grapes.

That said, two Sauvignon Blancs also feature in my line-up, one highlighting a subtle single-vineyard expression and the other rounded, oak-aged characters. There now is so much more stylistic diversity within this key category that wine lovers who are ready to graduate from the overt passionfruit, lime and grassy aromas of cool and stainless-steel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc will find much to enjoy.

I’ve also selected a lovely Marlborough Chardonnay from a new start-up called Vineyard Productions, a joint venture between two British Masters of Wine and boutique Kiwi winegrowers. You will note that not all whites I’ve picked are from the 2022 vintage – some have enjoyed a little bit more time to become themselves.

Ageworthy Pinots impress

When it comes to reds, it was Pinot Noir that stood out for me – not a surprise, really, since it is New Zealand’s most planted red grape variety. What is interesting is the crystallisation of regional identity and an increasingly refined approach that chases expression over power.

While the top examples are not cheap, they represent fantastic value for money and, as a range of mature wines also shown at the tasting amply demonstrated, New Zealand Pinots age and evolve beautifully. With red Burgundy being scarce and eye-wateringly expensive, New Zealand wines are a credible and worthwhile alternative.

Lovers of fuller-bodied reds will enjoy two seductive Syrahs I’ve singled out, as well as an elegant Bordeaux blend – all three hailing from the slightly warmer Hawke’s Bay region on the North Island.

The Syrahs blend the peppery spice of the Rhône with the ripeness of Southern Hemisphere sunshine without tipping into bulkiness, a combination I always find compelling. The great-value Bordeaux blend, meanwhile, features that same deft balance as the Syrahs, along with real charm.

New Zealand new release wines: 15 whites and reds to try

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