Gisborne

Heralding from the east coast of the North Island, just south of the Bay of Plenty and north of Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne’s lush wine region is the first in the world to see the sunrise each day.

Gisborne is one of the most reliable areas in New Zealand for growing grapes with a warm dry climate, moderated by cooling sea breezes, and stands as the third most productive wine region. The region’s wine industry took off commercially in the 1920’s, and the wines began to attract international attention into the 1970’s.

Comprised of a mix of large producers, boutique wineries, and entrepreneurial growers, Gisborne area vintners are continuously exploring new varieties and vineyard sites. Vineyards stretch inland from Poverty Bay on the east coast, and are grown across terrains ranging from valley floor, to terraced vineyards and coastal sites.

A wide range of varieties are grown here, with Chardonnay being the dominant variety, along with Viognier, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris, and notable red varieties include Merlot, Malbec and Syrah.

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