Some of the best international wines available in New Zealand

Above: Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron Les Tourelles De Longueville

New Zealand produces some incredible wines, from remarkable chardonnays and syrahs to powerful cabernet blends and precise rieslings. Our sauvignon blancs are world-class, and méthode traditionnelles can rival the best of their northern hemisphere counterparts. While it’s super important to support local producers, exploring and comparing imported examples can also be fun. Years ago, when I was studying for my MS, it was a huge challenge to find the categories of International wines I needed to familiarise myself with – now the availability is growing exponentially, with over forty million litres of bottled wine arriving in the last twelve months (I need to add here that this is across categories – not all meets the fine wine standard). Many nations are represented, from France, Italy and Europe to China, the Americas, and Australia. It's not always easy to select without a solid understanding of each offering, and I’m often asked to recommend wines and brands, styles, and fabulous buys.

Here are some interesting international wine discoveries to make.

Spain is well known for its tempranillos from Rioja and albarinos from Galicia; perhaps a little lesser known are wines from Priorat. Alvaro Palacios has released some stunning wines in time for Christmas with the Camins Del Priorat 2018 a great find. Made with carignan, grenache and cabernet it is dark fruited at the core with satin tannins and plenty of oak, beautiful texture and length – RRP$37.99. The stunning Des L Palacios Moncerbal Bierzo 2016 is elegant, aromatic, vivid tannins, lengthy and delicious - RRP $150.00. If you are looking for classic Rioja, then the Marques de Murrieta Reserva 2015 Finca Ygay is an exceptional wine. Established in 1852 it is the largest in in Rioja. This wine has aromas and flavours black cherry and dark berries, a core of brooding oak, fabulous tannins and bold structure – RRP $49.00. The Gran Reserva 2012 is a rare and stunning wine to share – RRP $99.00

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to Australian wine, but if you haven’t yet tried the range of Maverick wines (from the Barossa) then be sure try the Twins GSM (Grenahe Syrah Mouvedre) blend 2018 – it’s sleek and complex with flavours of plum and milk chocolate, firm tannins, just enough oak, and a long finish – RRP $34.00. The Trial Hill shiraz 2014 from Eden valley is fantastic - bio-dynamically farmed producing flavours of savoury nuanced red berry fruits, a sturdy structure and deeply complex - RRP $110.00.

If red Burgundy is on your search list and you are searching for a ready-to-drink style, but also something with complexity and a signature sense of place, then the Domaine de Bellene Bourgogne Rouge is here. Made with 100% organically farmed fruit with an average vine age of sixty-eight years, the nose and palate present a soft core of cherry and raspberry fruits, fine satin-textured tannins and a touch of wood spice – RRP $35.00. This same producer also does a premier cru 2017 cuvee du cinquantenaire pinot noir - a powerful, focused and complex example, a wine for the cellar or an amazing gift idea for a close friend – RRP $99.00.

Red Bordeaux blends are in plentiful supply at all price points. This means it can be harder to find a wine that is delicious to drink now and offers some cellar development time. I have recently tasted the Chateau Brainaire-Durcru Duluc 2015. This is the second wine from this classed-growth producer offering a fantastic, tense, ripe and youthful bouquet and palate. Firm tannins, complex, detailed with a core of ripe black fruits and plenty of tobacco smoky oak and power – RRP $70.00. Another Bordeaux red to drink or cellar is the Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron Les Tourelles De Longueville 2016. This is also a ‘second’ wine from a fine left-bank producer with a powerful core of dark berries, oak and tannins - a wine that needs decanting for service or another five years in your cellar – RRP $113.00

The very thought of a glass of fine Champagne gets most people, including me, all a-quiver with excitement. I know there are some fantastic and totally reliable houses out there. Still, if you’re searching for something different, with a gorgeous bouquet and flavour, pristine mousse and a fine, elegant feel – then I have two brands for you to try: the first is Champagne Henri Giraud Grand Cru Fût De Chêne Brut from AŸ. This MV or Multi-vintage wine is made with pinot noir and chardonnay with base wines aged in Argonne oak. A powerful brioche, then baked white fruits and toasted peach palate with a pristine and textured mousse and a very long finish. The packing is incredible as well – RRP $260.00

Another wine from the same producer and a rare find is the Ratafia Champenoise. This is a liqueur beverage where marc-de-champagne (brandy from Champagne) is added to the unfermented champagne must. Sweet, warm and a perfect accompaniment to cheeses and desserts – RRP $75.00.