New Zealand Pinot Noir is emerging as a global favorite.
This August 18, wine connoisseurs from New York to Berlin are raising their glasses to the vibrant, elegant, and expressive wines of New Zealand — the breakout star of the Pinot Noir world and the perfect bottle to celebrate International Pinot Noir Day.
With consumers increasingly reaching for lighter, fresher wine styles, New Zealand Pinot Noir has emerged as a global favorite. Once overshadowed by the bolder reds of Europe and California, this supple, aromatic varietal is now the country’s top red wine export — and is turning heads from Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong to beachside soirees in Miami.
As General Manager of Brand at New Zealand Winegrowers, Charlotte Read puts it:
“New Zealand Pinot Noir is something else.”
Charlotte Read
Indeed it is — and International Pinot Noir Day is the perfect excuse to explore why.
Pinot Noir in New Zealand: A Rising Star with Deep Roots
Although Pinot Noir was first planted in Wairarapa in 1883, it wasn’t until 1987 that New Zealand bottled its first commercial vintage. The 1990s brought critical acclaim, with gold medals stacking up in Australia and London, sparking a global whisper that a Pinot Noir renaissance was underway.
Fast-forward to today, and the whisper has become a roar. New Zealand Pinot Noir is the second most exported wine from the country (after Sauvignon Blanc) and holds the title of the leading red wine export, with over 1.5 million cases shipped annually.
Even more telling is the consumer demand. According to Wine-Searcher, Pinot Noir now represents 15.5% of the global red wine search market — up from 10.5% just a few years ago. Within New Zealand wine searches specifically, Pinot Noir claimed 32.4% of interest in 2024 — second only to Sauvignon Blanc at 35%.
What Makes New Zealand Pinot Noir So Special?
It’s all about terroir — and the cool climate.
“It leads with a concentrated core of fruit, underpinned by a vibrant backbone of acidity thanks to our cool climate,”
says Read.
“It sports the hallmark fragrance and elegant fine-grained tannins that leading Pinots possess.”
These unique characteristics stem from the diverse winegrowing regions across the country, including:
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Central Otago – the southernmost wine region in the world, known for bold, fruit-forward styles
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Marlborough – famed for its bright acidity and purity
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Wairarapa – home to the earliest Pinot plantings and known for structure and spice
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Nelson, North Canterbury, Waitaki Valley, and Hawke’s Bay – each offering their own regional signatures
The result? A spectrum of Pinot Noir styles that range from ethereal and floral to dark and brooding — without ever losing the grape’s signature finesse.
Not Burgundy — and Proud of It
At Pinot Noir New Zealand 2025, held this February in Ōtautahi Christchurch, wine critic Richard Hemming MW praised the uniqueness of Kiwi Pinot:
“New Zealand Pinot Noir will always, incontrovertibly, not be Burgundy. And that is its greatest strength!”
Richard Hemming MW
This authenticity resonates with today’s upscale wine drinkers — especially in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago — who crave both character and clarity in their glass.
And it’s not just about sipping. With natural acidity, moderate alcohol, and smooth tannins, New Zealand Pinot Noir is tailor-made for food pairing. Whether it’s roast duck in Washington DC or salmon crudo in Aspen, it complements a wide range of cuisines — including global fusion, plant-based menus, and seafood-heavy plates.
Sauvignon Blanc Drinkers, Meet Your Red Wine Match
There’s also a clever crossover happening. According to IWSR data, those who already enjoy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc — with its hallmark freshness, minerality, and zing — are significantly more likely to also drink New Zealand Pinot Noir.
As Read explains, “Research shows that Sauvignon Blanc drinkers are more likely than average to also drink Pinot Noir — especially those who already associate New Zealand wines with purity, freshness, and quality.”
This positions New Zealand Pinot Noir perfectly for sophisticated palates in markets like Manhattan or Hong Kong, where foodies are embracing fresher, chillable reds over tannic, oak-heavy bottles.
A Toast to the Future of Cool-Climate Reds
While New Zealand may still be the “new kid on the block” in the world of Pinot, its rapid rise and respected quality have secured its place among the elite. On International Pinot Noir Day, wine lovers have more reason than ever to raise a glass to a varietal that’s proving you don’t have to be from Burgundy to be world-class.
Whether you’re exploring Central Otago’s rich expressions or discovering Marlborough’s floral finesse, New Zealand Pinot Noir offers something exciting, expressive, and completely unique.
So this August 18, seek out a bottle, pair it with something unexpected — and discover what the world is buzzing about.
