To achieve a reputation as a fine wine, successful vintages of a particular label must be of consistently high quality. New Zealand's wine industry has developed so dramatically in recent years that a considerable number of wines can now be considered to have attained this status. This book is a tasting guide to 92 of New Zealand's premier wines from successive vintages - more than 650 wines in total. The labels included here are those that have established a reputation, within New Zealand and abroad, among critics and wine judges as well as the wider wine-drinking public. Over 40 wineries and the country's top winemakers are represented. A section is devoted to each wine type: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, botrytised sweet wine, sparkling wine, Cabernet and blends, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Comprehensive tasting notes assess each vintage of each wine, and details include the alcohol content, the grape variety or varieties, the source of grapes, the harvest date, ageing and blending, the name of the winemaker and a suggested optimum drinking date. Each wine is illustrated by its label.