Kumeu River Wines has broken new ground for sparkling wine by bottling New Zealand’s first bubbly to be called Crémant, which was released in October this year.

Let's play a word game: a winemaker says cool climate, active limestone and early ripening black grape variety.

It is 26 years since Jackson Estate launched their first Marlborough wine onto the market, and despite continued success the company has never had its own winery or cellar door.

Displaying the motto 'to struggle through adversity makes success so much sweeter' on their website, Kalex wines sense a distinct parallel between owner Alex Kaufman's will to survive, and the challenging task of farming grapes in Central Otago.

As the countdown to Pinot Noir 2017 continues, NZWinegrower will be looking at the regions taking part in the celebration.

Doug Bell spent the last 32 years vowing he would never plant Sauvignon Blanc.

While Marlborough is set to expand its vineyard production by 24 percent in the next four years, Central Otago's growth is expected to be far more modest.

Winegrower takes an in depth look at how the season has gone for growers across the country.

Every wine region has its challenges but when it comes to New Zealand's smallest ones, the trials of weather, climate and transportation can take on new levels of difficulty.

Driving from Central Otago to the Waitaki Valley, you could be forgiven for that no wine region existed here.