New Zealand South Island Wine

New Zealand’s South Island, being cooler than its counterpart, is best known for grape varieties that excel in cooler climates. At the north of the island, Marlborough, of course, is probably its most famous region, and is known the world over for its Sauvignon Blanc – today made in a far greater variety of styles than the all-conquering grassy, gooseberry-laden caricature. The region also produces increasingly acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, though the real home of the latter is Central Otago, towards the far south of the island. Here, producers such as Felton Road and Mount Difficulty are making wines of profound depth and complexity that rival Pinots found anywhere in the world.