Found at the top left hand side of the South Island, the Nelson wine region offers a cooler wine growing climate than other NZ stalwarts. The region’s vineyard area predominantly supports Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir. However in recent years Nelson has upped the ante for its aromatics, in particular Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.

The Nelson region divides into two outstanding viticultural areas. The flat, free draining, alluvial Waimea Plains in the east, lavished with endless sun and tempered by its proximity to the coast, creating flinty aromatics and plummed Pinot Noir. And the weathered gravels of the Moutere Hills, laying it on for rich Chardonnay, excellent Sauvignon Blanc and deep, elegant Pinot Noir.

Nelson is all about quality. Producing only 3% of the New Zealand’s wine stock but snapping up way more than its fair share of awards and acclaim, the region is fast becoming the country’s boutique wine-makers’ capital. Its fresh, innovative, unique wines perfectly reflect the lifestyle-rich, bohemian culture of this incredibly beautiful part of the world. This is wine with soul. As wine commentator Paul White has written, "Stylistically, there is a self-restrained tastefulness to Nelson wines that’s hard to pin down. They don’t chase a buck with a set commercial style, as other wine regions do. They don’t try too hard to please, and they definitely don’t show off."