| When it comes to choosing a white wine, there is | | | | famous Cloudy Bay which lends its name to one |
| an inordinate amount of choice. Whatever your | | | | of the best known New World white wines, |
| taste buds like, you will be able to find a wine to | | | | Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes for this |
| suit you as the styles range from crisp, dry, light | | | | wine are not actually grown at Cloudy Bay but |
| wines through to fruity, sweet wines. | | | | further inland. |
| However, when it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, it is | | | | Marlborough has more than 40 resident |
| definitely New Zealand who is leading the way in | | | | winemakers. The area has optimum wine growing |
| the New World wine market. | | | | conditions: lots of sunshine, dry autumn weather |
| The original Sauvignon Blanc wines are from the | | | | and great drainage. The result of this geology and |
| Loire valley in France, in particular from Sancerre, | | | | these agricultural conditions is a lot of producers |
| a small town east of Orleans. Sancerre is known | | | | of Sauvignon Blanc (there are other types of |
| for making wines of great flavour and elegance. | | | | wine produced here too, but this is the Ferrari of |
| New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc is now, | | | | wines for this area) apart from the Cloudy Bay |
| however, seen as being on a par with the | | | | label, others to look out for include multi |
| world’s best. Championed by wine critics such | | | | award-winning Saint Clair, Vidal, Hunter’s, |
| as Oz Clarke, Jancis Robinson and Master of Wine | | | | Jackson Estate and Vavasour. |
| John Avery, the wine itself is typically crisp and | | | | Besides the Marlborough region, there is another |
| pure in flavour. Try it for yourself, and discover | | | | area of New Zealand that is producing some |
| its fuller flavour. | | | | exceptional Sauvignon Blanc wine. Hawkes Bay in |
| The first production of the wine was back in the | | | | the North Island is traditionally seen as being a red |
| 1970’s. This was in many ways due to the | | | | wine region, but it also has a finger in the white |
| economic situation in New Zealand at the time. | | | | wine pie too. The Sauvignon Blanc here is one to |
| Britain had just joined the European Economic | | | | watch out for and some of the wineries |
| Community and this meant an end to historic | | | | associated with it are: Villa Maria, Matariki, |
| trade terms for New Zealand, meaning that the | | | | Brookfields and Trinity Hill. |
| agriculture industry had to restructure and | | | | So next time you want to buy a white wine that |
| specialise wisely according to its strengths. The | | | | is flavoursome but not overwhelming, search out |
| result was an increase in viticulture. | | | | a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. |
| The first wines of note were produced in the | | | | Why not take a look at what is on offer at |
| Marlborough region of New Zealand. This is on the | | | | Averys (Dot) Com. |
| South Island and the area includes the now | | | | |