Although it was Australia who arguably led the rise of the New World into the UK in the late 1980s, and early 1990s, it took the Kiwis no time at all in to jump upon the same wave. Indeed, they cannily ignored the lower price-points, coming through, instead, with premium bottles. Amidst their invasion, there was one single grape that grabbed the UK’s attention: Sauvignon Blanc – us Poms had never really tasted anything quite like it. This distinctive style remains, quite rightly, hugely popular. However, it would be extremely foolish to ignore all the other fantastic wines, of both colours, that now get loaded onto the container ships docked in Auckland’s harbour, there is supreme quality at every level.