Category: Wine 101

DipWSET Tasting: Wines of New Zealand

DipWSET Theory: It’s the Biz—New Zealand Wine Business

As I’m writing this, my D2 Wine Business exam looms. Most likely, by the time this goes live, I’ll have already sat the exam and be blissfully ignorant of the results. That being said, because of my D2 studiesam noticing more and more places where the material pops up in my D3 Wines of the World studies.

Wild Irishman Wines First Commercial Release; Central Otago, New Zealand
Wild Irishman Wines First Commercial Release; Central Otago, New Zealand

So, let’s take a look at how wine law, regulations, organizations, sales and marketing all take shape on the islands of New Zealand…

Before jumping in here, please take a look at the New Zealand Overview, North Island, and South Island articles first. 

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DipWSET Theory: New Zealand South Island

Welcome to New Zealand‘s South Island. If you haven’t yet read the New Zealand overview, or made a stop in the North Island yet, please do before moving on.

New Zealand South Island wine regions; Google Earth image
New Zealand South Island wine regions; Google Earth image

The South Island has significantly more terroir to cover, so strap in and enjoy the ride.

A note about the maps: I realize they are quite small, but good news—they’re active links. Click on a map and it will take you to the Google Earth page for a zoomed-in experience. Enjoy!

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DipWSET Theory: New Zealand Overview

We’re starting our tour of New Zealand with this FUN FACT: New Zealand is both the most isolated and smallest (by volume) wine producing country in our world. It is 1,000 miles away from its nearest neighbor, Australia, and produces just 1% of the world’s wine.

Remote and low-volume it may be, but its impact and place in our industry is certainly one to be examined.

New Zealand Overview; Fernando Beteta
New Zealand Overview; Fernando Beteta

On a personal note, I choose to travel next to New Zealand in order to decipher a distinction in the wines produced—as compared to the grown varieties’ Old World origins and to its New World neighbors (specifically the U.S., Australia, and South Africa).

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