The Sweet Taste of New Zealand: 5 Best Sweet Wines

New Zealand, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and exceptional wines, is a treasure trove for sweet wine enthusiasts. Among the plethora of wine options, sweet wines hold a special place. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of the best sweet wine NZ offers, a journey that promises to be as delightful as the wines themselves.

A Brief History of New Zealand’s Sweet Wine

The journey of New Zealand’s sweet wine production is as intriguing as the wines themselves. The wine industry in New Zealand took flight in the late 19th century, but it wasn’t until the 1970s and 1980s that it gained international recognition. The cool climate, which initially posed a challenge, turned out to be a blessing for producing the best sweet wine NZ is known for. Winemakers began to harness the natural conditions to produce sweet wines with a balance of acidity and sweetness that is now celebrated globally.

Now that we have explored the history of New Zealand’s sweet wine production, let’s dive into the top 5 sweet wines that this beautiful country has to offer:

1. The Marlborough Noble Riesling

Flavor Profile

The Marlborough Noble Riesling is celebrated for its exceptional flavor profile, which combines the following elements:

• Honeyed Apricot: The wine exhibits a luscious sweetness reminiscent of honeyed apricots. This prominent note adds depth and complexity to the overall taste, making it a delightful choice for those with a sweet tooth;
• Citrus Zest: Vibrant and zesty citrus aromas complement the sweetness in the wine. The acidity is well-balanced and adds a refreshing note to the wine, which is enhanced by the subtle lemon fruit notes.

Production Methods

The production of Marlborough’s Liquid Gold involves meticulous techniques to capture the essence of the grapes and create this unique sweet wine. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps:

• Grape Selection: Only the finest Riesling grapes are selected for this wine. The grapes must undergo the noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) process, which concentrates their sugars and flavors;
• Hand Harvesting: Harvesting is typically done by hand to ensure the grapes are in perfect condition and free from any undesirable elements;
• Fermentation: The grapes are gently pressed to extract the juice, which is then fermented at controlled temperatures. This slow fermentation process preserves the delicate aromas and flavors of the grapes;
• Aging: The wine is aged in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels, depending on the winemaker’s preference. This aging process allows the wine to develop its unique character and complexity;
• Blending: In some cases, winemakers may blend different vintages to achieve the desired flavor profile and consistency.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Marlborough Noble Riesling’s rich sweetness and balanced acidity make it a versatile wine for pairing with various dishes. Here are some delectable food pairing suggestions:

Food Pairing	Description
Blue Cheese	The wine’s sweetness complements the pungent flavors of blue cheese.
Foie Gras	The wine’s acidity cuts through the richness of foie gras, creating a harmonious pairing.
Spicy Thai Cuisine	The wine’s sweet and citrusy notes balance the heat and complexity of Thai dishes.
Fruit Desserts	Pair with fruit tarts, crumbles, or sorbets for a delightful dessert experience.
Roast Duck	The wine’s acidity complements the succulent, flavorful roast duck meat.

2. Central Otago Pinot Noir Dessert Wine

Characteristics

The Central Otago Pinot Noir Dessert Wine is celebrated for its unique and captivating characteristics:

• Cherries: This wine exhibits a prominent cherry bouquet that is both aromatic and indulgent. The cherries contribute to the wine’s rich, fruity notes, making it a delightful treat for the senses;
• Dark Chocolate: Complementing the cherries, the wine also features subtle hints of dark chocolate. This addition adds depth and complexity, elevating the overall tasting experience;
• Balance: What truly sets this wine apart is its impeccable balance of sweetness and acidity. It strikes a harmonious chord between the two, ensuring a well-rounded and satisfying flavor profile.

Production Methods

The creation of Central Otago’s Cherry Delight involves a carefully orchestrated production process that captures the essence of the region and its renowned Pinot Noir grapes:

• Grape Selection: Only the finest Pinot Noir grapes are chosen for this dessert wine. These grapes are typically harvested later in the season to maximize their sugar content and flavor;
• Late Harvesting: The late-harvested grapes are left on the vine to undergo natural dehydration. This concentrates the sugars and intensifies the flavor;
• Pressing: The grapes are gently pressed to extract the highly concentrated juice, which is rich in sugars and flavors;
• Fermentation: The juice is then fermented at controlled temperatures to preserve the unique aromas and flavors of the grapes;
• Aging: After fermentation, the wine is aged in oak barrels, allowing it to develop complexity and character over time.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Central Otago Pinot Noir Dessert Wine’s versatile flavor profile makes it a delightful companion for a variety of culinary experiences. Here are some food pairing recommendations to enhance your enjoyment:

Food Pairing	Description
Chocolate Desserts	The wine’s dark chocolate notes complement chocolate-based desserts like flourless cake or truffles.
Cherry Tart	Pairing with a cherry tart enhances the wine’s cherry bouquet, creating a harmonious combination.
Cheese Platter	Aged cheeses, such as Gouda or blue cheese, contrast beautifully with the wine’s sweetness and acidity.
Duck Confit	The wine’s acidity cuts through the richness of duck confit, creating a well-balanced pairing.
Mixed Berries	Enjoy with a mixed berry dessert to highlight the wine’s fruity notes and enhance the sweetness.

3. Hawke’s Bay Botrytis Chardonnay

Unique Features

Hawke’s Bay Botrytis Chardonnay is renowned for its exceptional and distinct characteristics:

• Lush Peach: The wine boasts a lush and prominent peach flavor profile, delivering a sweet and fruity sensation that tantalizes the palate;
• Tropical Fruit: Complementing the peach notes, the wine showcases tropical fruit flavors, adding complexity and depth to the overall taste experience;
• Touch of Spice and Honey: To further enrich the wine’s profile, it incorporates subtle hints of spice and honey. These elements elevate the wine, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.

Production Methods

Creating Hawke’s Bay Nectar involves a meticulous production process to capture the essence of the region’s Chardonnay grapes and the unique characteristics imparted by the Botrytis cinerea fungus:

• Grape Selection: Only the finest Chardonnay grapes are chosen for this wine. These grapes are typically affected by the Botrytis cinerea fungus, also known as noble rot, which concentrates sugars and flavors;
• Late Harvesting: The grapes are harvested late in the season, allowing the noble rot to fully develop. This natural dehydration process intensifies the grapes’ sweetness;
• Pressing: The grapes are gently pressed to extract the highly concentrated juice, rich in sugars and flavors, necessary for the production of sweet wine;
• Fermentation: The juice is fermented at controlled temperatures to retain the unique aromas and flavors of the grapes;
• Aging: After fermentation, the wine is aged in oak barrels to develop complexity and character. This aging process also contributes to the wine’s distinct taste profile.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Hawke’s Bay Botrytis Chardonnay’s rich and complex flavor profile makes it a versatile choice for pairing with a variety of culinary delights. Here are some recommended food pairings to enhance your tasting experience:

Food Pairing	Description
Foie Gras	The wine’s sweetness complements the richness of foie gras, creating a luxurious pairing.
Spicy Asian Cuisine	Pair with spicy dishes, such as Thai or Indian cuisine, to balance the heat with sweetness.
Blue Cheese	The wine’s sweetness contrasts beautifully with the strong flavors of blue cheese.
Peach Cobbler	Enjoy with a peach cobbler dessert to highlight the wine’s lush peach notes.
Roast Chicken	The wine’s acidity pairs well with the savory flavors of roast chicken or turkey.

4. Waipara Valley Late Harvest Riesling

Taste Profile

The Waipara Valley Late Harvest Riesling is celebrated for its remarkable taste profile:

• Sweet Apple: The wine boasts a prominent sweet apple flavor, delivering a delightful burst of fruity sweetness that lingers on the palate;
• Pear: The wine’s crisp pear flavors, which go well with the apple undertones, give the palate more dimension and complexity;
• Hint of Lime: To provide a touch of zest, the wine incorporates subtle hints of lime. These citrusy notes enhance the wine’s overall balance and liveliness.

Production Methods

Crafting Waipara Valley’s Hidden Gem involves a meticulous production process designed to capture the essence of the region’s Riesling grapes and create a wine of exceptional quality:

• Grape Selection: Only the finest late-harvested Riesling grapes are selected for this wine. These grapes have undergone natural dehydration, concentrating their sugars and flavors;
• Late Harvesting: The grapes are harvested later in the season to ensure maximum ripeness and sweetness. This natural dehydration process intensifies the grapes’ sugar content;
• Pressing: The grapes are gently pressed to extract the highly concentrated juice, rich in sugars and flavors, necessary for the production of sweet wine;
• Fermentation: The juice is fermented at controlled temperatures to preserve the unique aromas and flavors of the grapes;
• Aging: After fermentation, the wine is typically aged in stainless steel tanks to retain its fresh and vibrant character.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Waipara Valley Late Harvest Riesling’s sweet and vibrant flavor profile makes it a versatile choice for pairing with a wide range of culinary delights. Here are some recommended food pairings to enhance your tasting experience:

Food Pairing	Description
Spicy Thai Curry	The wine’s sweetness and hint of lime balance the spiciness of Thai curry dishes perfectly.
Blue Cheese	Pair with blue cheese to contrast the sharpness with the wine’s sweet apple and pear notes.
Roast Pork	The wine’s acidity complements the savory flavors of roast pork, creating a well-balanced pairing.
Fruit Salad	Enjoy with a fruit salad to highlight the wine’s fruity character and enhance the sweetness.
Lemon Sorbet	The hint of lime in the wine pairs wonderfully with lemon sorbet, creating a refreshing dessert.

5. Gisborne Gewürztraminer

Why It Stands Out

Gisborne Gewürztraminer distinguishes itself with remarkable features:

• Tropical Fruit Carnival: This wine is akin to a tropical fruit carnival in a glass. It showcases a vibrant array of tropical fruit flavors, making it a truly exotic and delightful choice;
• Lychee: Prominent among its flavors is the essence of lychee, which adds a sweet and aromatic dimension to the wine;
• Pineapple: The wine features refreshing pineapple notes that enhance its complexity and create a lush and tropical taste experience;
• Subtle Rose Petal Finish: To complete its profile, Gisborne Gewürztraminer offers a subtle finish of rose petals, adding a touch of floral elegance to the overall taste.

Production Methods

Crafting Gisborne’s Tropical Paradise involves a meticulous production process designed to capture the essence of the Gewürztraminer grapes and create a wine of exceptional quality:

• Grape Selection: Only the finest Gewürztraminer grapes are chosen for this wine. These grapes are typically harvested at optimal ripeness to ensure a well-balanced sweetness and acidity;
• Gentle Pressing: The grapes undergo a gentle pressing to extract the juice while preserving the delicate aromas and flavors inherent in the grapes;
• Fermentation: The juice is then fermented at controlled temperatures, allowing it to develop its unique tropical fruit characteristics;
• Aging: After fermentation, the wine may undergo a brief period of aging, often in stainless steel tanks, to maintain its fresh and vibrant character.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Gisborne Gewürztraminer’s tropical fruit flavors and subtle rose petal finish make it an excellent choice for pairing with a variety of dishes. Here are some recommended food pairings to enhance your tasting experience:

Food Pairing	Description
Spicy Thai Cuisine	The wine’s exotic tropical notes complement the spiciness of Thai dishes, creating a harmonious balance.
Lychee and Pineapple Salad	Pair with a lychee and pineapple salad to accentuate the wine’s lychee and pineapple flavors.
Asian Fusion Cuisine	Enjoy with Asian fusion dishes that incorporate elements of sweet and savory, enhancing the wine’s complexity.
Creamy Brie Cheese	The wine’s acidity cuts through the creaminess of Brie cheese, creating a delightful contrast of flavors.
Fruit Sorbet	Sip alongside a fruit sorbet for a refreshing dessert experience that harmonizes with the wine’s profile.

Conclusion

The journey through the best sweet wine NZ has to offer is not just about tasting wine; it’s about experiencing the essence of New Zealand itself. Each bottle tells a story of the land, the climate, and the dedication of its winemakers. So, next time you’re in the mood for something sweet, remember the best sweet wine NZ brings to your glass – a world of flavor waiting to be explored.

FAQs

Q: What makes New Zealand sweet wines unique?

A: New Zealand’s unique climate and soil conditions contribute to the distinct flavors of its sweet wines, making them some of the best sweet wine NZ is celebrated for.

Q: Can sweet wines from NZ age well?

A: Absolutely! Many of the best sweet wine NZ produces can age gracefully, developing more complex flavors over time.

Q: Are there any food pairings to avoid with NZ sweet wines?

A: It’s best to avoid overly salty or bitter foods, as they can clash with the sweetness of the wine.

Q: Is sweet wine from NZ only for dessert?

A: Not at all! While they are excellent with desserts, the best sweet wine NZ offers can also be enjoyed with a variety of savory dishes or as an aperitif.

Q: Where can I buy the best sweet wine NZ produces?

A: These wines are available in wine stores globally or can be ordered directly from the vineyards’ websites.