Central to the success of New Zealand wine is their temperate maritime climate, the unwavering passion of their wine producers and the highly distinctive nature of their wine styles. Sauvignon Blanc was the first wine to put New Zealand on the map, but you will find that Pinot Noir and Riesling are cultivated with great success in the more southerly regions: the Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury, Waipara and Central Otago. Cabernet blends and Syrah flourish in New Zealand’s warmer regions, such as Hawke’s Bay, Auckland and further north.