The many family-owned vineyards dominate the wine-production in Auckland. The best wines are from Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are fruity and smell of blackberries.
The wine assortment from Auckland reaches from price-worthy, simple to expensive and complex wines. During the 1970's and 80's development stagnated and the wine industry didn't reach its peak until the 1990's. Most vineyards buy grapes from other parts of New Zealand and then process them.
The climate is cool and there is lots of rain. The extremely high humidity is compensated for in raising the vines. The soil conditions vary. Sand and clay soils require extensive irrigation.
Next to the Cabernet Sauvignon, which succeeds well here, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are also raised here, and processed together with the Cabernet Sauvignon after the Bordeaux recipe. There are good results among the white wines with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The wine-production methods are pretty modern in most houses.
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