New Zealand

long time crap. now they make benchmark sauv blanc

Certified Origin was created in 1996 but it has nothing to say about grapes etc

varietal must contain 85%
vintage must contain 95%
source must contain 80%

New Zealand is made up of two islands, North and South, and 10 wine regions, of which Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, and Marlborough are most important.

North Island

Hawkes bay is one of the oldest and best, on the eastern shore of the North Island, it gets the greatest number of hours of sunshine in the country
Variety of gravel soils, glacial and aluvial, Notably Gimlet Gravel from Gimlet road

Gisborne is on the most easternly tip. and produces the best Chardonnay. it replanted in the mid 80's after phylloxera with classic varietals, more than half chard

north island also produces chard and merlot, and some bigger sauv blanc that does well with oak

South Island is where the sauv blanc comes from

Marlborough is a broad flat valley with free draining gravel soils. there are few reds planted, and the region is renowned for its world class sauv blanc

Central Otago is a new upcoming area, very far south, away from the sea, hillside plantings
mostly Pinot Noir