'Vintage Of A Lifetime' For New Zealand Wines?

You probably already know Kim Crawford, New Zealand's famous producer of sauvignon blanc, but now you need to look for 2013 - the vintage of a lifetime.

I am already a big fan of New Zealand wines, but it looks like things are about to get even better. Much better.

Constellation New Zealand, the parent company of several of New Zealand’s most popular and reliable wines, especially the standout Kim Crawford and Nobilo labels, is predicting big things for 2013, calling it the “Vintage of a Lifetime.” Given that Constellation’s Chief Winemaker, Darryl Woolley, has been doing his job for more than 30 years – the entire time in which New Zealand wines have garnered a global reputation – this is a claim to be taken seriously. According to Wooley, 2013 was not only New Zealand’s driest growing season in about 70 years, but also benefited the sunniest first three months of the year since 1930, conditions rivaled in “recent” history last by the 1978 season, some 35 years ago.

“We’ve had a perfect mix of warm, but not hot, days and cool nights. Rain fell at the right part of the growing cycle and, more importantly, did not fall during the critical period leading up to harvest,” explained Wooley in a release. ”This resulted in a medium sized crop of exceptionally high quality grapes.”

Bearing in mind that seasons are reversed Down Under and the fall harvest for the year has already taken place, some of these wines are ready and begin arriving in store in the US this month.

I have long been a big fan of the country’s famously crisp sauvignon blancs, which go so well with food, especially spicy and Asian flavors. Long a top producer, Kim Crawford has become synonymous with top shelf New Zealand sauvignon blanc, and has become almost a default purchase for me, and with the 2103 vintage beginning distribution in this country right now, in July, I’ll soon be purchasing even more, especially because it is such a good summer food wine. Last year, I picked this wine as one of my top buys of the year for 2012 here at Forbes.com, not expecting it to get m better. Kim Crawford makes both regional and highly localized versions of its sauvignon blanc, and many other varietals including merlot, pinot noir, pinot grigio and an unoaked chardonnay, all of which Wooley says have benefitted greatly from the weather this year.

In recent years I have also gained much more fandom for the country’s under-appreciated pinot noirs, which, like the sauvignon blancs, are expecting an incredible year. In particular I have been impressed with Nobilo’sIcon label and can’t wait to try the 2013, which should be here by spring. Nobilo also makes an Icon version of sauvignon blanc, which I haven’t tried, but the standout 2013 vintage should arrive this fall, and I will add it to

This vineyard provides such great grapes for Kim Crawford that it is nicknamed "The Favourite," but nearly all of New Zealand had a banner harvest in 2013.

my to-do list. As Wooley explained, “The Pinot Noir has an excellent field balance, with soft, ripe acidity and tannins. We are especially looking to great things from the stunning Pinot Noir harvested from our Central Otago growers.”

These are just some of the many excellent wines from New Zealand, and whatever your favorite label is, I suggest trying the 2013 vintage as it becomes available!

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