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Nelson is the South Island's most northerly wine region and lies west of the famous wine region of Marlborough. In terms of production, it is New Zealand’s eighth-largest wine-growing region, and is split into two distinct viticultural areas.
Nelson has a unique grape-growing topography, with the mountains on the western side of the island providing a rain shadow and Tasman Bay to the north helping to moderate temperature extremes. The region also enjoys plentiful sunshine during the growing season, which helps to ripen the grapes to such an extent that the flavors are truly reflected in the styles of wines produced.
Most of the vineyards in Nelson are scattered around the Waimea Plains and the hills of Upper Moutere. The local soils are based on clay which, along with other distinctive growing conditions, is responsible for the particular characters of the region's wines.
Nelson is home to cool-climate grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Wines from the lower-lying sites are known to be aromatic and light, while wines from the hills are described as more weighty, with a distinct minerally character.
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