Friday, October 18, 2019

New Zealand---Benchmark for Quality/Price


                      Some of the world's best white wine values wine are in New Zealand

Outstanding quality and value wines can be found around the globe.   New Zealand, however, consistently knocks it out of the park for quality-to-price ratio.  For example, nearly 130 Kiwi wines recently reviewed by the Wine Spectator earned scores between 90-100 points, and the average price rang in at only 37 US bucks per bottle. Conversely, California Cabernets with the same Wine Spectator scores were $145 per bottle, while Cali Pinots were $63.  Similarly, high scoring South African wines (which are a huge value at the moment) were an average of $53 on Wine Spectator. 

Currently, Wine.Com (the world’s largest online store), lists a dozen New Zealand wines with Robert Parker scores of above 90 points for < $30---the majority are less than $20 and are Sauv Blancs.  WineSearcher.com, another behemoth of the internet wine world, also gives New Zealand major props for their high quality/low price wines.  In their recent World’s Top 50 Wine Bargains, several of them were from New Zealand.  Wine Enthusiast Magazine, lists three New Zealand Sauv Blancs in their Top 100 Best Buys which featured bargains from around the globe.  Forbe’s Magazine named New Zealand in 2017 as one of the most underrated wine regions. 

If you are coming with Wine-Knows to New Zealand for their harvest in February 2020, you’ll note that while the country has many pricey wines >$100 US, it also abounds with delightful values of superbly crafted wines.  Below are some of my fave quality/price Kiwi wines, all of which are available in the US.  Two are reds, but the remainder are whites.

<$20:
  • Ata Rangi Sauv Blanc   
  • Greywacke Sauv Blanc
  • Greywacke Pinot Gris
  • Loveblock Sauv Blanc
  • Whitehaven Sauv Blanc 
  • Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauv Blanc


$25-30:
  • Cloudy Bay Sauv Blanc
  • Quartz Reef Sparkling Brut
  • Te Mata Cape Crest Sauv Blanc
  • Trinity Hill Gimlett Gravels Syrah


$30-35:
  • Greywacke Pinot Noir
  • Te Mata Elston Chardonnay

 




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