Standout wines for me were evenly spread across the two countries, and included the pure, fluent Seifried Estate Aotea Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (£17.75, farehamwinecellar.co.uk) and the luminous peach and crème-fraiche savoury complexity of Neudorf chardonnay from New Zealand; and, from Australia, the mouthwateringly taut, clean lines of Ministry of Clouds Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2023 (£39.95, vincognito.co.uk) and the tranquil soft red fruit of Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2023 (£28.95, fieldandfawcett.co.uk).
If you asked wine-drinkers in Britain to pick a red and a white grape variety to represent each of Australia and New Zealand, I reckon most would plump for chardonnay and shiraz for the Aussies, and sauvignon blanc and pinot noir for the Kiwis.
But there are plenty of winemakers on either side of the Tasman Sea who make fantastic wines from the neighbouring country’s specialities – a fact that was confirmed at a tasting in London recently in which 10 examples of each of those big four varieties, five from New Zealand and five Australian, were lined up for comparison.
Neudorf Rosie’s Block Moutere Chardonnay, Nelson, New Zealand 2022 (from £34.99, tauruswines.co.uk; bowlandforestvintners.co.uk; thefinewinecompany.co.uk).
Chardonnay from the Aussies, sauvingnon from the Kiwis?
