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Nelson

New Zealand wine-growing region that shares the northern end of the South Island with its more famous neighbor MARLBOROUGH. German settlers first planted vines in this region in the 1840s; however, many became disheartened and moved on to the more hospitable climate of Australia’s BAROSSA VALLEY. Over the decades other VITICULTURE attempts were made in the Nelson region, but it was not until the 1970s that the modern era began. Nelson sits to the west of Marlborough across the Richmond and Bryant Mountain Ranges. It’s sheltered on the west by the Tasman Mountains and Mount Arthur Range. The sheltering effect of the mountains makes the Waimea Plains, where most vineyards are planted, one of the sunniest places in New Zealand. Still, this area is cooler and wetter than Marlborough, though fortunately rains don’t generally hamper efforts late in the growing season. CHARDONNAY, SAUVIGNON BLANC, RIESLING, and PINOT NOIR account for a large majority of the planted varieties and are the most successful. With less than 800 acres, Nelson is one of New Zealand’s smallest growing regions.

Related Links: Marlborough, Barossa Valley, viticulture

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