Which Is Truly OZ & NZ?

I tend to think that most grapes have varied origins. Such as the US's Zinfandel is very closely related to Italy's Primitova.

No grape is *truly* Oz or NZ, as vitis vinifera is native to neither country (yes, the same can be said of the US). However, if you want to know what varieties they are best known for, then the answer is for Oz Shiraz, and for NZ Sauvignon Blanc.

Mark Lipton

"raymd" asked of the collective wisdom of the group....

The classic wine grape varieties are all Vitis vinifera which is native to Europe and Western Asia.

Yes, there are grapes native to North America, but they are not recognised as the classic varieties.

There are no grapes native to either New Zealand or Australia.

However, there are three varieties which have achieved international status in Australia: Shiraz (Syrah) - mostly from South Australia; Semillon as grown in the Hunter Valley in NSW, and Brown Muscat (iconic fortified wines from Northern Victoria.)

New Zealand is renowned for the distinct Sauvignon Blanc - in particular those originating in Marlborough province of the South Island.

hth

Right, there are no vinifera grapes native to North America.

Probably the best expression of sauvignon in the world.

And some might add Pinot Noir to the NZ portfolio. My jury is still out, but I see great strides, and feel that it will only be time as the deciding factor. It will happen. The "when" is the only missing piece. However, in the meantime, one cannot go wrong with most of the SB from the land of kiwis. It is difficult to find a bad one of all that I've seen in the US. Most are great, with some "good" ones in the batch, but rarely does one find a weak- sister in the bunch.

Just my very humble opinion, Hunt

"Hunt" wrote .........

My vinous senses were first aroused in 1984 when the first truly varietal NZ Pinots emerged - firstly St.Helena (Canterbury) then Martinborough Vineyards from the mid 80s.

And yes, I have seen tremendous improvements over the intervening 20 years as numerous winemakers battle with this enigmatic grape.

But I have never encountered the X factor to say "NZ pinot has arrived".

I have come across a couple of new world PNs - I recall a Mondavi Reserve PN from the mid 80s and several from the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia which had the cherry, mushroom fruit and the smoky bacon savouriness together with that earthiness - and more!

Yes, I have had NZ pinots with superb fruit (although fermented dry, there was almost a residual "sweetness" present which seems to detract!) - and yes, clever use of French oak imparts vanilla/smoke - but never have I had even one that say "oh yes! this is a cut-above"

And I am not talking about making a new world burgundy look-alike.

Some very good Pinot Noir has emerged out of NZ - perhaps another 20 years will start to see it reach a status as the red equivalent of sauvignon blanc.

I expectantly await that time and that breakthrough wine.

I love a good Pinot and will have to try a few from NZ. Trouble is here in USA all I can get is the mass produced high volume wines from other countries. Southern California produces some excellent Pinots. One of my favorites is Melville. Watch the movie Sideways and you'll see a few of the areas wineries and vineyards.

Well M'Lord, I had a tatse of one that stopped me dead in my tracks a few weeks ago. Clos Henri, 04, from Marlborough. Aparently the winemaker is a Bourgeois family member who have 10 generations of winemakers in NZ and France. Superb drinking now, but had that Burgundian "leave me alone for a while and I'll get better". Mind you, at $50-60AUD it needed to be a ripper.

hooroo....

I wouldn't add Pinot Noir to the NZ portfolio - yet. I had a number of good Pinots when last in NZ, particularly around Central Otago. All very consistent, but none really stood out.

Any thoughts on NZ Riesling? I found myself really enjoying the ones I came across around Marlborough (particularly the 2004 vintage from Lawson's Dry Hills, which I found quite magnificent). Not quite at the level of the Sauvs, but many of them were extremely good and I think it's just a matter of time before we get a breakthrough Riesling from there that gets put on a similar pedestal to the Marlborough Sauv.

Salil

I'd have to agree, OZ- Shiraz and NZ - Sauv Blanc, Although Australia is now producing some fairly region specific Cabernet Sauv's which are beginning to grab more of the limelight i.e. Margaret River and Coonawarra