Nelson WineArt is made up of 25 family run wineries from the hills to the plains, crafting exquisite wines. Journey into the countryside and meet the winemakers at their cellar doors. Bask in the sunshine, enjoy lunch at one of the vineyard cafés, select wines for your cellar, taste . . . explore . . . imbibe. You’ll also discover art exhibitions, luxurious vineyard accommodation and breathtaking views in the picturesque hills and plains of Nelson.

The softly rolling Moutere Hills are formed from the weathered gravels of an ancient river system, which originally reached from St Arnaud to the coast. The gravel-threaded clay soils are renowned for producing wines of richness and texture. The Pinot Noir is deeply flavoured with fine tannins and elegance. The Chardonnay is complex and multi-faceted with excellent structure. Winemakers also produce excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris.

Waimea means ’river gardens’ in Maori – with stony soils of alluvial origin, high sunshine hours and a moderating maritime influence, the Waimea Plains provide a great terroir. The aromatic whites are vibrant wines, often with a flinty backbone acting as a counterpoint to the overt fruit flavours, while the Chardonnay here is richly expressive with fine acid structure. The Pinot Noir is perfumed and pretty – plum and cherry characters on the nose with the ripeness carrying through to the supple tannins on the palate. Simply unforgettable.

Per hectare of vines planted, Nelson consistently wins more awards than the other regions in New Zealand. The region has a great reputation for the aromatic varieties – Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer. It also has its own distinctive take on Sauvignon Blanc, some exquisite examples of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and some superb “stickies”. Nelson wines are sold around the world, but you have the chance to experience our wines in the place they were created.

Home of the 2010 Nelson Aromatics Symposium. Visit www.nelsonwineart.co.nz for all event details including our spring new release tastings that are held around the country each year.

The main grape varieties are Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling and Syrah.

Source: New Zealand Winegrowers – nzwine.com