decent wine

[mel2011]

Hi all,

Can anyone suggest me some decent wine brand made in NZ? I haven't got chance to try in NZ but would love to buy some to give to my friends overseas as gifts. thank you very much.

[girlwithanewf]

What price range are you looking at? Up to a maximum of how much?
And a simple question, red or white?

[Manks]

It would probably be easier to say what isn't a good brand!

But in all honesty, it really depends on the types of wine you want to buy, then look at the regions rather than the brands.

Sauvignon Blanc - Marlborough, and only Marlborough
Pinot Noir - Central Otago is the best but Martinborough also known for it
Merlot or Chardonnay - I think Hawkes Bay is the best for these wines.

I do have a couple of favourite brands but don't stick to them and will often try different wines based on supermarket specials. Also New World often has tastings so you can try things out. And City Market (in the Chaffers Dock atrium) on a Sunday morning regularly has a winery doing tastings.

For what it's worth, my favourite brands are:
Sav = Sacred Hill, Tohu and Cloudy Bay
Pinot Noir = Rua by Akarua

As you can tell, I'm more of a white person myself

[dilanium]

There are so many different delicious wines in NZ! Johner Estate is one I like a lot, but so is Alpha Domus, Tirohana...

[mikeandcaroline]

Will go along with Cloudy Bay - red or white. A bit more expensive but we think worth it - we even pay the price to get a bottle in the UK when we can get hold of it.

[Lauralocks]

I agree with all the recommendations, except I would say for Sauvignon Blanc that I prefer Hawkes Bay to Marlborough, when you can get it. It just edges it for me, but if devlishly hard to get outside of NZ. Its one of the things I'm most looking forward to.

I can't remember the brands though, sorry.