The Wine Region Nobody Talks About (And Should)
- nelson, new zealand pinot noir, an underdog
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This story is about an underdog.
I’m intrigued. I always root for the underdog. Where are we going?
New Zealand, which produces only 1% of global wine – about the same as Austria, Hungary, Brazil, and China. Surprising, as most wine drinkers know that New Zealand produces wine and have tried their wine at least once.
… likely a Sauvignon Blanc.
Agreed.
But to be clear, I am not calling New Zealand an underdog, but rather Nelson, one of its main wine regions.
Never heard of it.
Not surprised.
At just 2% of New Zealand’s production, the fact that some of their wines were brought to my little part of the wine world tickled me pink.
Single digit percentage multiplied by single digit percentage means that on the world stage, Nelson wines are miniscule baby potatoes.
Yup! AND delicious ones.
Just like the whole of New Zealand, Nelson’s top white and black grapes are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The only two other grapes of significance in Nelson are Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.
So how small IS this dog.
Less than 1000 hectares (2500 acres), providing grapes to about 40 wineries. It is tiny compared to neighbouring Marlborough at 32,000 hectares (79,000 acres), representing 73% of New Zealand’s vineyards.
I can’t believe I’ve made you wait this long for a map.
New Zealand has two islands: the North Island and the South Island. Wine is produced on both islands, with 10 main wine regions all within 130 km (80 miles) of the sea. In the northwest corner of the South Island, the Nelson wine region is located north of the country’s Southern Alps, the “spine” of the South Island. It has a cool maritime climate and enjoys mild winters & warm summers.
The South Island’s first city, Nelson, was founded in 1841 and is located on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay. With the area surrounded by mountains and the ocean, it is isolated from the rest of the South Island.
The Nelson wine region is shown here along with its two main subregions: Waimea Plains and Moutere Hills. There is another subregion not shown here called the Tasman Coastal subregion, a narrow strip (see map below).
The underdog’s underdog.
I guess so!
Below is a zoom in of the subregions showing their proximity to the municipality of Nelson.
Okay let’s zone in on the featured wine, I am parched!
The featured wine is the Moroki Pinot Noir 2022. Pinot Noir’s origins go back to a grape called Pinot which is believed to date back to Roman times, with evidence of the grape’s existence in France in the 4th century.
Wow, that is truly ancient.
This is where I like to get into Nelson history, which can be spotty or hard to find in new wine regions. I was pleased to find that radiocarbon dating indicates Māori people activity since the 1300s. Māoris are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Unfortunately, no indications of vines, but sweet potato plantations in Waimea show that agriculture started with the Māori.
Moving forward to the 1800s the New Zealand Company founded Nelson as a settlement. Many of the area’s inhabitants were from the UK, with 140 Germans also among them.
In 1868, F M Ellis & Sons Winery was established by Frank Ellis. Frank came from the UK with his family in 1849, when he was at least 6 years old (birthdate unknown). After working as a goldminer, Frank eventually made his way to England for a year to learn about the wine trade. This led to establishing the winery in Nelson and making wine in “substantial volumes.”
In 1907 he passed the winery on to Harry Ellis. In 1916, due to a flash flood the vines and winery were washed down to the sea. However, the business recovered and continued to sell wine for several decades.
It was sold to Bob and Phyllis Thorpe in 1937, and still remains in the family. It is now called Ellis Creek Farm, but sadly wine is no longer produced there.
Ultimately, it is not until the 1970s that things took off for Nelson’s modern wine industry.
The featured wine is made by Moroki, a wine cooperative from Malborough who also makes wine from fruit grown in Nelson. Moroki means “to go further” or “ongoing” in Māori.
Are they into wine?
I am not sure, we may need to make a trip to New Zealand and ask them personally!
Let’s do it – right after I scroll down for the low down of the featured wine!
Great! I’ll book the flights!
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Moroki Nelson Pinot Noir 2022, Nelson, New Zealand
Style: New world style, light body red wine
Variety(ies): Pinot Noir
On the nose, one is struck by the intense cedar and cherry notes. On the palate, sour cherry, red cherry, strawberry, and baking spice. This complex wine also has notes of smoke, forest floor, earth with a hint of mushroom. It’s light bodied, has fresh acidity, and a persistent finish. This will appeal to lovers of light, oaked pinot from the new world.
Best pairings: Cedar-plank salmon, Pork tenderloin served with cherry sauce, Wild mushroom pizza, Shepherd’s Pie, Roasted poultry, Portobello mushroom burger, Mushroom risotto, Cheese: Smoked Gouda, Goat cheese, Washed-rind cheeses
Serving Temperature: 13-15 degrees Celsius
Serving Tips: Pour & enjoy
Price: ~$28 Cdn
Relevant Shades of Grape links: Keep scrolling
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LINKS TO RELEVANT PAST SHADES OF GRAPE ARTICLES:
SOURCES
Ellis Creek Farm. (n.d.). About us. Ellis Creek Farm
Carl Walrond, Nelson region, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/nelson-region (accessed 17 May 2026)
Facebook. (n.d.). Top of the South Noticeboard post. Facebook Post
Harding, J., & Robinson, J. (2023). The Oxford companion to wine. The Oxford Companion to Wine Oxford University Press.
McNeil, K. (2015). The Wine Bible (3rd ed.). The Wine Bible Workman Publishing.
Moroki Wine. (n.d.). Vinello. Vinello – Moroki Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers. (n.d.). Nelson. New Zealand Wine – Nelson Region
New Zealand Winegrowers. (2026). Vineyard report 2026. Vineyard Report 2026 PDF
New Zealand Winegrowers. (n.d.). Vineyard reports. New Zealand Wine – Vineyard Reports
Taste Nelson Wines. (n.d.). The Nelson wine region. Taste Nelson Wines – Region
Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. (n.d.). Nelson region – Page 10. Te Ara – Nelson Region Page 10
Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. (n.d.). Roadside stories: Nelson – The WOW factor. Te Ara – Roadside Stories Nelson
WikiTree. (n.d.). Ellis-3786. WikiTree – Ellis-3786
Wine & Spirit Education Trust. (2025). D3: Wines of the World—An accompaniment to the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines (Version 1.2). Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Wine-Searcher. (n.d.). Nelson wine region. Wine-Searcher – Nelson Region