“Honeyed,” “fruity,” and “bracing” this collection of lauded New Zealand white wines offer more than just the nation’s signature Sauvignon Blanc.

New Zealand wines have a distinctive flavor, a well-balanced texture, and a captivating experience unmatched in the world of wine. A region surrounded by alpine mountains, a mild climate, and a plethora of top-notch wineries with state-of-the-art machinery and experienced winemakers – we can never get enough of it.

Among all the white wines, New Zealand white wines hold a very special place due to their high-quality alcohol that will excite your palate and put you in a relaxing mood.

Dive in to learn 6 New Zealand white wines you must try this year…

Why are New Zealand white wines different?

New Zealand receives accolades for its distinctive and expressive white wines from all over the world thanks to its maritime climate, calm atmosphere, and rich soil. New Zealand white wine is one of the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages. The best white wines from New Zealand are layered and exude an opulent sense of lushness. They are a little cloudy and taste sour to crisp.

New Zealand’s alpine mountains have a tale to tell. It’s about making continual adjustments and flavourful advancements to climb to the top of the wine-quality food chain. While a fresh batch awaits the modern wine dwellers, aged New Zealand white wines become classier with each passing year. Additionally, the following pointers also contribute to the different vibe of New Zealand wines:

Climate and Terroir: New Zealand has a cool, maritime climate that is well-suited to growing grapes for white wine. The country’s long, sunny days and cool nights help to produce wines that are fresh, vibrant, and aromatic. The terroir, or the environmental factors that influence the grapes, also plays a significant role in the flavor and character of New Zealand white wines.

Other Varieties: New Zealand is also known for producing excellent Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and other white grape varieties. These wines are typically characterized by their bright acidity, intense fruit flavors, and mineral notes.

Sustainable Practices: New Zealand is committed to sustainable wine production and many wineries are certified organic or biodynamic. This focus on sustainability helps to produce wines that are pure, clean, and expressive of their terroir.

Top 6 New Zealand white wines to try this year:

1. Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022

The New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is the most popular type of wine in New Zealand. It is also the most exported wine in the country.

The Sauvignon Blanc from Cloudy Bay from 2022 is immediately expressive in the glass, with flavors of white peach, bright, ripe citrus, kaffir lime, and passion fruit. The palate is lively and irresistible, with concentrated, juicy tropical flavors blending with tangy citrus, stone fruits, and delicate orchard blossom notes.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022 — Cloudy-Bay-Sauvignon-Blanc-2022

2. Misty Cove Wines Estate Series Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2022

Misty Cove Wines Estate Series Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2022 is an attractive bouquet that displays aromas of grapefruit, green rock melon, lime zest, and sweet basil. This is followed by a vibrant, juicy, and lively palate. The wine has a lot of pure flavors and bright acidity, and it has a crisp, long finish.

Old-world winemaking methods have a significant influence on Misty Cove’s Landmark Sauvignon Blanc. We painstakingly handcrafted this wine in small batch sizes to accurately capture the “Landmark” — the features and traits of the Fareham Lane vineyard where it was grown.

This New Zealand wine owes its intense fruit flavors complemented by the mid-palate weight that developed during the six months of lees aging before bottling.

Misty Cove Wines Estate Series Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2022 — Misty-Cove-Wines-Estate-Series-Sauvignon-Blanc-Marlborough-2022

3. Harwood Hall Chardonnay 2016

Harwood Hall Chardonnay 2016 has a light lemon layer with notes of vanilla and toasted oak supports the flavors of apricot, peach, and melon. This Chardonnay has a creamy texture, a medium to full body, and a dry finish. The fruit for this wine, which was grown on a single vineyard in Hawkes Bay, was harvested in exceptional condition following a strong growing season. 40% new French oak was used for the gently pressed grapes. The wine was aged for 10 months before being bottled, with a portion allowed for malolactic fermentation.

4. Misty Cove ‘Landmark Series’ Sauvignon Gris 2020

Misty Cove ‘Landmark Series’ Sauvignon Gris 2020 is a white wine made from the Sauvignon Gris grape variety, which is a mutation of the Sauvignon Blanc grape. This wine is produced in New Zealand’s Marlborough wine region, which is known for producing some of the world’s finest Sauvignon Blanc wines.

This New Zealand white wine is a light-bodied wine with a pale-yellow color and greenish hues. On the nose, it has a bouquet of ripe tropical fruits like passionfruit, pineapple, and mango, along with floral notes and hints of citrus. On the palate, the wine is crisp and refreshing, with flavors of juicy grapefruit, lime, and green apple, balanced by a subtle minerality.

This wine is best served chilled and pairs well with seafood dishes like oysters, shrimp, and grilled fish, as well as light salads, cheese platters, and vegetarian dishes.

Misty Cove ‘Landmark Series’ Sauvignon Gris 2020 — Misty-Cove -Landmark-Series-Sauvignon-Gris-2020

5. Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2021

A complex blend of rock melon and honeydew, with hints of blackcurrant, layers of delicate citrus blossom, and a smoky, dill-like complexity. The Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is a traditional Marlborough expression that displays a vibrant salsa-like mingling of succulent tropical fruit flavors and that distinctive herbal infusion, finishing with a zesty citrus tang.

6. Misty Cove ‘Landmark Series’ Riesling 2020

Misty Cove is a premier winery known for its exquisite wines and breathtaking vineyard vistas. One of their newest and most well-liked offerings is the Misty Cove ‘Landmark Series’ Riesling 2020, which has rich, fruity flavors with a light minerality and crisp finish.

Due to its smooth, well-balanced flavor profile and strong aromas of stone and tropical fruit, this wine has quickly gained popularity among wine enthusiasts. The Misty Cove Landmark Series Riesling 2020 is a truly delicious New Zealand white wine that should not be missed, with its complex flavors and beautifully balanced acidity.

The outstanding terroir and climate of New Zealand are truly expressed in the Misty Cove “Landmark Series” Riesling 2020. This wine, which is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, is a rare find.

Get em’ on Benchmark Wines

Some people may have trouble discovering authentic New Zealand white wine, whether they are searching online or in person. You can get some of the best white wine in Singapore at Benchmark Wines. Everything from well-known brands to up-and-comers, from their color to distinctive flavors, can be found in Benchmark Wines’ exquisite online cellar.

For your preferred New Zealand white wine, Benchmark Wines offers hassle-free online shopping.

Love Spanish wines more? Read here.

Sauvignon Blanc is one such unique variety of grape that is either most liked or hell disliked by the drinker upon the first sip. It was Cloudy Bay that changed this case of Sauvignon Blanc wines – result – New Zealand white wines are famous across the borders.

And this is not just the case of New Zealand white wines but at the same time applied to both red wines and rose wine too – giving New Zealand wines a special place in the world and eventually putting New Zealand on the global wine map.

This makes Cloudy Bay the epicenter of our today’s blog. It will all be about Cloudy Bay – its origin, its differentiator, the best products, our must-try recommendations and much more.

Cloudy Bay – the producer of the best New Zealand wines

Unarguably, wines are an expression of the nations they are produced in. For the New Zealand-based Cloudy Bay Vineyards, there is no better way to put it. Cloudy Bay is a winery in Marlborough, New Zealand that is credited with putting New Zealand on the wine map.

The winery was established in 1985 and its Sauvignon Blanc quickly gained international recognition for its quality, leading to increased attention and recognition for New Zealand as a whole. Through consistent high-quality and innovative winemaking, Cloudy Bay helped to establish New Zealand as a major producer of premium wines, contributing to the country’s reputation as a world-class wine destination.

How it all started?

New Zealand has a history of breaking new ground. The New Zealand wine industry operates under the same principles. There was a lot of experimentation in the early days of New Zealand’s vineyards to determine which grapes adapted best to the soil and climate. However, it was evident that there was a special connection between the grape, the soil, and the climate when Sauvignon Blanc grapes were first planted in the 1970s.

Cloudy Bay was one of the first five wineries to venture into Marlborough. It was almost inconceivable at the time for a vineyard to be established. However, the man who founded Cloudy Bay, David Hohnen, was convinced that the region could produce top-notch wine and bought the best land that was on the market with the motive to deliver the best New Zealand wines. Since then, Marlborough has grown into one of the best wine-producing regions in the world and the most significant wine region in New Zealand.

Cloudy Bay Vineyards began cultivating grapes and making wine in Wairau Valley, which is located at the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand. In addition to being one of the first wineries in Marlborough to open, Cloudy Bay was also the pioneer in the use of Sauvignon Blanc in winemaking.

This is what prompted the development of a standard Sauvignon Blanc, not just for Marlborough but for all of New Zealand. However, the greatness of the wine is due to more than just the production method. Tune in to the next section…

What makes it different?

With all this, the question remains the same – What is it that sets Cloudy Bay apart? What made it pull the world’s attention to New Zealand wines?

The answer is Terroir. Yes, apart from the production method, smartly leveraging the terroir is also a plus. Making the most of the terroir, or the climate and soils where the grapes were grown, is a key factor in the success of Cloudy Bay wines.

The terroir – The Pacific Ocean and the Richmond Range Mountains are both close to Marlborough. This location means that Cloudy Bay’s vineyards benefit from the Richmond Range Mountains as they help provide wide temperature fluctuations, much like Argentina’s vineyards benefit from the Andes Mountains. As a result, grapes are produced that have a lovely balance of acidity and berry ripeness. In addition, the vineyards profit from having stony soils that drain well. Concluding, Marlborough is a distinctive, cool wine region with a maritime clientele that offers ideal conditions for the production of cool-climate New Zealand wines.

The best Cloudy Bay wines

Along with producing Sauvignon Blanc primarily, Cloudy Bay also produces wines with varieties like Chardonnay, Te Koko, Pinot Noir, Te Wahi, Pelorus, and Pelorus Rose. However, they are primarily popular for producing best-in-class Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

1. Sauvignon Blanc

The most well-known product from Cloudy Bay is the Sauvignon Blanc. This Sauvignon Blanc is renowned worldwide for its robust aroma, including notes of tropical fruits, recently cut grass, green bell pepper, and a stony minerality. The accompanying flavours of fresh grapefruit, lemon, guava, and ripe stone fruit are particularly adored.

But what distinguishes the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from other Sauvignon Blancs? Aside from its flavour profile, this New Zealand white wine, Sauvignon Blanc, is softer, richer, and less acidic than other options. This is a result of a careful selection process combined with terroir. Consequently, if you want to sample one of the best Sauvignon Blancs in the world, you should add this to your list. Oysters make a delicious food pairing for this new-world white wine.

Click here to get your Cloud Bay Sauvignon Blanc delivered to your doorstep RIGHT NOW.

2. Chardonnay

Cloudy Bay Chardonnay can be described in three words: delectable, fragrant, and creamy. This white wine has lovely aromas of apricot and pink grapefruit and undertones of honeycomb, baking bread, and cashews to round it out. On the palate, you’ll also detect notes of cashews, preserved lemon, and nectarine. You’ll detect a hint of grapefruit and white floral notes at the very end. If you plan to pair this wine with food, we suggest light fish dishes like the sole with light butter and lemon sauce.

3. Pinot Noir

Light to medium-bodied Pinot Noir is also produced by Cloudy Bay Vineyards. This red wine holds a special place among New Zealand wines and has flavours of light rose, violet, ripe berry fruit, hints of luscious plums, and dark aromas of black cherry and bramble fruit (think raspberries and blackberries). When sipping this wine, which is surrounded by silky tannins, you’ll also detect complex spicy oak and herbal notes as well as a seamless structure. You can enjoy this red wine with currant jelly and lamb chops.

Click here to get your Cloud Bay Pinot Noir delivered to your doorstep RIGHT NOW.

Okay, see ya… that’s all about Cloudy Bay. We are leaving you with utter insights into the best-in-class brand of New Zealand wines along with the links to order them from the very device you are reading this blog from. In case you are still wondering where to buy good wine in Singapore, Benchmark Wines can be it for you with round-the-clock delivery of wines.

Also, before ordering your perfect bottle of New Zealand wine, do not miss our guide to pairing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and other popular wines with different varieties of cheese.

6 Must-Try New Zealand White Wines of All Time

Why are New Zealand white wines different?