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Winery
O'dwyers Creek
Varietal: Chardonnay
There are few white wine grape varietals as famous or widely appreciated as the Chardonnay, and with good reason. This highly flexible and adaptable grape quickly became a favorite of wineries due to its fairly neutral character. This neutrality allows the wineries to really show off what they are capable of doing, by allowing features of their terroir or aging process to come forward in the bottle. As well as this, most high quality wineries which produce Chardonnay wines take great efforts to induce what is known as malolactic fermentation, which is the conversion of tart malic acids in the grapes to creamy, buttery lactic acids associated with fine Chardonnay. Whilst the popularity of Chardonnay wines has fluctuated quite a considerable amount over the past few decades, it seems the grape varietal allows enough experimentation and versatility for it always to make a successful comeback.
Region: Marlborough
The beautiful region of Marlborough in the north east of New Zealand's South Island is home to over fifty percent of the country's vineyards, and is most commonly associated with the production of fine white wines, the majority of which are made with the Sauvignon Blanc grape varietal. Since the 1970s, New Zealand has consistently proved that the Marlborough region is one of the most suitable places on earth for the production of high quality white wines, where the hot days and cold nights allow wineries to extend the ripening period for their fine grapes and get far more expression of flavor and terroir from their fruit. The region itself is ideal in other ways, too – the mineral rich soils and oceanic breezes assist in the health of the vineyards, and Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietal grapes all manage to thrive there.
Country: New Zealand
As with nearby Australia, New Zealand has over the past century proven itself to be a superb location for producing high quality wines in vast amounts, with much of the cooler regions of both islands being used primarily for vine cultivation. New Zealand wineries are notable for their enthusiasm in regards to experimentation, and for utilizing modern technologies and methods to make the most of the imported grape varietals which flourish in the rich, fertile soils and oceanic climate. In recent years, it has been the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines which have gained the most attention, as a result of their smoky character and ability to carry the mineral rich nature of the terroir they grow in. Changing consumer interests have brought about a considerable rise in the production of organic and sustainable wines in New Zealand, of which again, the Sauvignon Blanc varietals are leading the way in regards to excellence, flavor and overall character.