WINES TO GO WITH KIWI FAVOURITES

New Zealand food is honest, generous, and flavour-driven — from bakery classics to beachside fish and chips and long summer barbecues. The good news? You don’t need complicated rules to pair wine with these favourites. A few well-chosen styles will have you covered every time.

CHEESE

 Artisan Cheese Board

(Blue, sharp vintage cheddar, creamy soft cheeses)

Try:

• Sparkling wine (freshness cuts richness)

• Chardonnay (especially lightly oaked)

• Pinot Noir (gentle tannins, great with hard cheeses)

• Late-harvest or dessert wine (magic with blue cheese)

Mince & Cheese Pie

Try:

• Merlot (soft, comforting)

• Pinot Noir (versatile and crowd-pleasing)

• Shiraz (if you like a bolder match)

Cheese Scones

Try:

• Chardonnay

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Dry Rosé

Sparkling styles from our Sparkling Wine Collection are especially versatile with artisan cheese boards, while softer reds from our Red Wine Collection work beautifully with aged cheddar.

RED MEAT

Roast Lamb

(Rosemary, Sunday classic)

Try:

• Pinot Noir (elegant, savoury)

• Syrah / Shiraz (peppery and expressive)

• Cabernet Sauvignon (structure for richness)

• GSM blends (Grenache-led warmth)

Kiwi Meat Pies

(Mince, steak & cheese, bacon & egg)

Try:

• Merlot

• Pinot Noir

• Shiraz

• Malbec

BBQ Favourites

Steaks (Scotch fillet, sirloin, eye fillet)

• Cabernet Sauvignon

• Malbec

• Shiraz

Sausages

• Grenache

• Pinot Noir

• Dry Rosé

Lamb Chops & Skewers

• Syrah

• Pinot Noir

• GSM blends

Beef Burgers

• Merlot

• Zinfandel-style reds

• Shiraz

Low & Slow Brisket

• Shiraz

• Malbec

• Cabernet Sauvignon

Hāngī

(Earth-cooked lamb, pork, chicken)

Try:

• Pinot Noir

• Syrah

• Chardonnay (textured styles work beautifully)

For lamb, barbecue meats, burgers and classic Kiwi pies, expressive bottles from our Red Wine Collection deliver structure, depth and effortless pairing confidence.

WHITE MEAT (POULTRY)

 Chicken Hāngī

Try:

• Chardonnay

• Pinot Gris

• Sauvignon Blanc

Butter Chicken Pie

Try:

• Off-dry Riesling

• Pinot Gris

• Gewürztraminer

Chicken Kebabs

Try:

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Dry Rosé

• Pinot Gris

Boil-Up

(Pork or chicken, broth-based)

Try:

• Chardonnay

• Chenin Blanc

• Pinot Gris

Textured styles from our White Wine Collection, including Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, complement poultry dishes beautifully without overpowering them.

FISH

Fish & Chips

(Snapper, tarakihi, hoki)

Try:

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Dry Riesling

• Sparkling wine

Whitebait Fritters

Try:

• Champagne-style sparkling

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Albariño

King Salmon

(Fresh or grilled)

Try:

• Pinot Noir (lightly chilled)

• Chardonnay

• Rosé

Smoked Fish Pie

Try:

• Chardonnay

• Chenin Blanc

• Pinot Gris

Crisp wines from our White Wine Collection, alongside refreshing bottles from the Sparkling Wine Collection, are natural partners for New Zealand seafood.

SHELLFISH

Bluff Oysters

Try:

• Champagne or traditional-method sparkling

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Muscadet-style whites

Green-Lipped Mussels

Try:

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Pinot Gris

• Dry Riesling

Crayfish

Try:

• Chardonnay

• Champagne or sparkling wine

• Chenin Blanc

Pāua Fritters

Try:

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Dry Rosé

• Sparkling wine

For Bluff oysters and crayfish, the elegance of our Sparkling Wine Collection shines, while select styles from the White Wine Collection enhance sweetness and texture.

DESSERT

Pavlova

Try:

• Moscato

• Late-harvest Riesling

• Sparkling Moscato

Hokey Pokey Ice Cream

Try:

• Dessert wine

• Tawny-style fortified wine

• Late-harvest Sauvignon Blanc

Lolly Cake

Try:

• Sweet Riesling

• Moscato

• Ruby-style fortified wine

Afghan Biscuits

Try:

• Tawny fortified wine

• Banyuls-style reds

• Late-harvest reds 

Lamingtons

Try:

• Sparkling Moscato

• Sweet Shiraz

• Ruby fortified wine

A FINAL THOUGHT

Great wine pairing isn’t about perfection — it’s about confidence, balance, and enjoyment. These combinations are designed to work effortlessly with the foods we actually eat, whether it’s a bakery pie, a beach picnic, or a long summer barbecue.

Curious to explore these styles? Our curated collection makes it easy.