Wines : Gisborne

Located on the country's most easterly tip and closest to the international dateline, Gisborne boasts the world's most easterly vineyards and the first vines to see the sun each day.

The region receives high sunshine hours on coastal plains that are sheltered from the west by a range of mountains. Vineyards are predominantly sited on flats. Chardonnay occupies around half of Gisborne's vineyards. The balance is planted in mostly white varieties, leaving red grapes a share of only 10%.

(More information: www.nzwine.com)