Auckland

Auckland on New Zealand's North Island is both the country's largest city and a boutique wine-producing region, producing around 0.5% of the country’s wine. Vineyards are dotted around the countryside to the north and south of the metropolitan area.

Despite its size, it is New Zealand’s most historic wine region and has a strong reputation for full-bodied reds, and refined whites. The region’s maritime climate, diverse soils, and long sunshine hours support the production of premium Bordeaux-style reds, refined Chardonnays, and aromatic whites.

Winemaking began in the late 19th Century with the arrival of Dalmatian settlers who brought winegrowing traditions from their Croatian homeland and began to plant grape vines on the land surrounding the new settlement of Kumeū. Much of New Zealand's modern wine industry traces its history back to these setters.

“To get under the skin of Waiheke’s wine - look to the land, the vineyards, listen to nature if you can, then let your senses take over and think of nothing but what is in the glass.” Sam Harrop MW

Auckland Sub-regions

Spread across a large, geographically diverse area, the Auckland wine region encompasses three distinctive subregions, the island of Waiheke, historic West Auckland, and stretches north to the coastal enclave of Matakana. Each has a distinct climate, soil type, and wine style.

Waiheke Island - ‘The Island of Wine’- is the most prestigious wine sub-region, known for Bordeaux-style reds and Syrah. With warm temperatures, long sunshine hours, and free-draining soils, this island produces rich, structured, and elegant wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah dominate, offering flavours of dark berries, spice, and earthy complexity.

By contrast, Kumeū could be considered as the Chardonnay capital. Many of New Zealand’s oldest wine families still work here. Located northwest of Auckland city, it has a cool maritime climate with clay-rich soils, making it ideal for Merlot, and particularly Chardonnay, which is internationally recognised.

Matakana, an hour north of Auckland, is a small but highly diverse sub-region. With rolling hills and volcanic soils, it produces full-bodied reds such as Syrah, Cabernet blends, and Italian varieties like Sangiovese and Montepulciano. It also excels in aromatic whites such as Pinot Gris and Viognier.

Chardonnay
Varying styles of weighty, ripe wines with tropical flavours and fresh, balanced acidity are common throughout the region, with Kumeū River leading the way in Burgundy-style, barrel-fermented wines.

Bordeaux Blends
Auckland, particularly Waiheke Island, is known for bold, structured Bordeaux-style blends featuring Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. These wines are deep, complex, and full-bodied, with flavours of blackcurrant, dark plum, spice, and cedar.

Syrah
Parts of the mainland and Waiheke Island produce exceptional elegant and spicy Syrah, showcasing dark berry, black pepper, and floral notes. These wines are often compared to those from the Northern Rhône.

Pinot Gris
These varieties thrive in Matakana and Waiheke, producing aromatic wines with ripe pear, peach, and floral notes.

(Infographic by New Zealand Winegrowers)

Geographical Indication (GI) and Provenance

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a designation that identifies a wine as originating from a specific region, attributing certain qualities, reputation, or other characteristics to that location.

Registered as a GI in 2018, Auckland’s wine industry thrives on innovation, tradition, and small-scale, high-quality production. The sub-regions within Auckland: Matakana, Kumeū, and Waiheke Island, were registered as GIs around the same period.

These designations ensure that wines labelled with these GIs are produced from grapes grown within these specific areas, reflecting the unique terroir and characteristics of both Auckland and each sub-region.

These GIs are important in protecting the authenticity of wines from these areas, and provides consumers with confidence in the origin and quality of the wines they enjoy."