- Over the course of two months, I tasted (and wrote notes) on nearly 250 New Zealand wines, representing over 50 different wineries. Most of these were either at wine festivals or on wine tasting tours, but I did jot down tasting notes whenever I could at a restaurant or bar as well.
- Of the wines tasted, the greatest majority were Pinot Noir (65), then Riesling (35), Sauvignon Blanc (30) and smaller quantities of other varietals such as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and red single varietal or blends. These numbers reflect my taste more than the actual ratios of NZ wine production, but of course, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc are what have given NZ it's international reputation.
- My scoring distribution is divided as follows: I gave 12% an "excellent", 35% "very good", 36% "good" and 17% either an OK, non-rated, or bad (as in there is something actually wrong with the wine). I haven't decided yet if these ratings are perhaps too generous or a fair distribution. It's not fair to re-rate in hingsight, but if I was on the fence (good/very good) I gave it the lower rating when entering the scores.
- I tasted in all the major wine regions, including Auckland (Waiheke Island), Hawke's Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough, Nelson, and Central Otago. The only wine region I didn't explore much was Gisborne, on the north island. Since they are known mostly for their Chardonnay, it wasn't a high priority for me.
I will post more on specific regions and wineries, but in the meantime, feel free to ask me any questions about a specific wine you may have seen in your supermarket or wine store. There is a good chance I can tell you what it tastes like before you decide to buy it!
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