Wairarapa
Main grapes: Syrah, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Viognier
Sub-regions: Masterton, Martinborough, Gladstone
Climate: Wairarapa has a semi-maritime climate, and though it is sheltered by the westerly Tararua Ranges it still remains exposed to a considerable amount of wind. Spring and autumn are both cool and moderate, however the summer sees very high temperatures in the day followed by much cooler nights – this enables the development of intense varietal character and complexity. On top of these ideal conditions, the winter/spring rainfall patterns and long, dry autumns mean that late harvest is possible and therefore botrytised wines can also be produced.
You should know... Fact of the day: ‘Wairarapa’ is translated as ‘glistening waters’ in Maori…cute right? There is a huge range of grape varieties grown here, and these varieties are produced in numerous different styles, so the diversity of wine is enormous in this region. Even so, Pinot Noir remains the dominant varietal, with a tendency to produce richly flavoured wines with savoury undercurrents and strong fruit aromas.
Sub-regions: Masterton, Martinborough, Gladstone
Climate: Wairarapa has a semi-maritime climate, and though it is sheltered by the westerly Tararua Ranges it still remains exposed to a considerable amount of wind. Spring and autumn are both cool and moderate, however the summer sees very high temperatures in the day followed by much cooler nights – this enables the development of intense varietal character and complexity. On top of these ideal conditions, the winter/spring rainfall patterns and long, dry autumns mean that late harvest is possible and therefore botrytised wines can also be produced.
You should know... Fact of the day: ‘Wairarapa’ is translated as ‘glistening waters’ in Maori…cute right? There is a huge range of grape varieties grown here, and these varieties are produced in numerous different styles, so the diversity of wine is enormous in this region. Even so, Pinot Noir remains the dominant varietal, with a tendency to produce richly flavoured wines with savoury undercurrents and strong fruit aromas.