Alternative white varietals, such as arneis, grüner veltliner, chenin blanc and gewurztraminer, can offer exciting drinking, and many go well with food.
Forrest The Doctors' Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2011
$25
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
A delicious, fresh wine hinting of apple but not overly fruity, rich in the mouth and beautifully balanced by a lovely dry finish that makes it good with food.
$28
Thre and a half stars
Average value
Floral aromas with hints of ripe yellow fruits - pear and cape gooseberry - mouth-filling but nicely balanced with an attractive, dryish finish. Best served chilled.
$25
Three and a half stars
Average value
Fragrant with lots of lively fruit - pear and ripe apple, an attractive, slightly tart finish, that goes well with food.
$23
Three and a half stars
Average value
Fragrant with hints of roses, lychees, mint and toffee, this a big wine, charming, but with a hot finish.
$27
Three and a half stars
Average value
From Matawhero's first crop of grüner veltliner, this is a rich, off-dry wine with hints of citrus and apple, and a satisfying, dry finish.
$27
Four stars
Good value
From 20-year old vines, this is a stunning wine, fragrant, oozing lychees and hints of toffee, big and textural but restrained by a dry finish.
ANOTHER GLASS
Waimea Nelson Grüner Veltliner 2011
$25
Three and a half stars
Average value
Hints of peach and courgettes with a suggestion of lime and a biscuity undertone, this is a lively, mouth-filling wine with a silky texture and attractive firm, dry finish.
Kaimira Estate Brightwater Gewürztraminer. 2009
$18
Three and a half stars
Good value
This four-year old wine demonstrates how well good gewürztraminer can develop. It oozes lychees, rose petals and suggestions of toffee and is attractively mouth-filling if a tad hot on the finish. big, old-fashioned, full-on gewürztraminer.
