The New Zealand wine industry has complete changed over the past thirty years. What was once a sleepy cottage industry has now become a modern business, with producers crafting remarkable wines form a few superior districts.

Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough district, situated at the northern end of the South Island, instantly became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1990s. The typical examples offers ripe gooseberry and line aromas, assertive herbal favors and a rich finish with tangy acidity. Not only did Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc put New Zealand on the viticultural map, today, it is recognized as one of the iconic wine styles anywhere on the planet.

This success has led to other varieties being planted in specific territories in the country, such as Pinot Noir in Central Otago and Martinborough (as well as Marlborough), red Bordeaux varieties in Hawke's Bay, and several other cultivars.

Today New Zealand ranks fourteenth in wine production in the world and has gained new respect as well as sales in many export countries.