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• Located in the northeastern corner of New Zealand’s South Island
• New Zealand’s largest and best known winegrowing area
• Plantings are primarily located within the Wairau Valley
• Viticulture has also spread southeast into the smaller slightly cooler Awatere Valley
• More recently the southern side valleys of the Wairau – Fairhall, Hawkesbury and Waihopai have gathered a collection of vines
• Area represents 62% of total vineyard area in the country and 85% of the country’s world famous Sauvignon Blanc plantings
• The free-draining, alluvial loams over gravelly subsoils in the Wairau and Awatere River valleys provides ideal growing conditions
• Abundant sunshine with cool nights and a long growing season allow the grapes to ripen slowly and fully
• Sauvignon Blanc is the most planted grape variety with Chardonnay in second place, followed by Pinot Noir and Riesling
• Region has also earned an enviable reputation for Méthode Traditionelle sparkling wines (made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir)