Nelson Wine

Nelson sits at the top of the South Island, just west of Marlborough, and shares a similarly sunny, dry climate while producing a noticeably different range of wine. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are the region's mainstays, but Nelson's smaller, more fragmented vineyard sites have also made it a good home for aromatic varieties like Pinot Gris and even less common options such as Albarino. The region remains one of New Zealand's smallest by volume, which keeps production largely in the hands of family-run wineries. If Marlborough is what you already know, Marlborough Wine is worth a look for comparison, as is North Canterbury Wine for another under-the-radar South Island region. For the wider picture, New Zealand Wine covers every region we carry.