Northland: New Zealand’s Oldest Wine Region

Lying in the northernmost part of NZ, as says its name Northland, is one of the country’s oldest wine regions. Surrounded by the east & west coasts on both sides, it’s just 4-hour-drive away from Auckland. Known for adventure sports, picturesque cycling trails and the 90-mile-long beaches, the Northland wine region is also home to a minuscule but fast-growing boutique wine industry.

Brief History
Historically, Northland holds great importance as it is the first region in NZ to be planted with grapevines. Its journey began in 1819 with the plantation of first vines by the missionary, Reverend Samuel Marsden. This was followed by the arrival of Croatian gum diggers in the late 1800s who brought with themselves their European winemaking tradition. Ironically, this oldest region never witnessed large scale wine production. That said, its coonawarra industry is growing exceptionally fast with over 50 members at present.

Things to do

• Lying on the east coast of Northland, Poor Knights Island is home to diverse marine life, rocky volcanic outcrops and colourful water plants. Dive into the waters or grab a stand-up paddleboard to explore this beautiful place.

• Fill your day with adventure by visiting Te Paki Sand Dunes (The largest in Southern Hemisphere). Climbing them up is not the only challenge but what follows after, i.e., surfing down via boogie board.

• Watch dolphins, whales & other marine mammals in the wild via dolphin cruise around the bay of islands (A group of 144 unique islands).

• You can also walk down to Cape Reinga, a beautiful site where the Tasman Sea meets the mighty Pacific Ocean.

• Peddle your way through the Twin Coast Cycle Trail, exploring old historic settlements, fascinating cultural sights, lush forests and coastal views on your way.

A Walk Through the Vineyards
Climate: The region enjoys a unique sub-tropical climate. Summers are warm and humid while it rains during winters. Vineyards exposed to cooling winds from the Tasman Sea or the Pacific Ocean experience less humidity, considered good for growing vines.
Soil: From poorly-drained, dense clay to hard sandstone, the soil-type shows great variation across Northland wine region. Of all, dry and free-draining soil is considered to be the most suitable for viticulture.

Must-Try Wines
The region, no matter has a small scale wine industry, the wines that are produced here are rare (Owing to the unique climatic conditions). While Syrah, Pinotage and Chambourcin are mostly-produced red wines, Chardonnay Pinot Gris and Viognier top the white wine production chart.

Additional Read:

1. A Sneak Peek Into New Zealand Wine History