Ostler Vineyard, Waitaki Valley
It may be hard to imagine today, but as recently as the 1980s, there was hardly any wine produced in New Zealand, and certainly no wine of export quality. But around that time, industrious New Zealanders began to realise that the climate, the soil and the terrain in several regions of the country were highly suited to viticulture, and before long, vines began to be planted, and to thrive, in places like Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa in the North Island, and Marlborough and Central Otago in the South Island, and in a very short time, the wines that emerged from this distant wine making outpost began to win awards and compete actively with wines from the more established vineyards of Europe, North America and Australia.
Today, visitors from around the world come to New Zealand to visit the wineries that dot the landscape, many of which have cellar doors, where you can not only taste, but also buy the wines that catch your fancy, and where you can also experience some varietals other than Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, which so dominate New Zealand’s wine export trade.
Many of the Heritage & Character NZ Portfolio members are in close proximity to vineyards–and some even have their own!–so if you’re interested in incorporating wine tourism during your New Zealand holiday, our owner/hosts will be happy to see to it that you experience the best that their areas have to offer.
Click on the links below to learn about some of the H&C properties that are located in wine-making regions: