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Right outside of the busy metropolitan area of Auckland lies Kiwi wine country—an area that locum tenens on assignment are sure to enjoy.
New Zealand has more than 13,000 hectares of vineyards managed by more than 480 wine-producing companies, making it one of the fastest-growing wine producers in the world. The area surrounding the so-called 'City of Sails' is home to the three largest wine producers in the entire country.
There's a burgeoning international demand for Kiwi wine exports, and the locals love the wine here, too. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how receptive the growers are to letting visitors sample the wine and purchase a few bottles to take home.
The climate is truly unique in that it allows for an astounding variety of wine production—Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the most common reds produced here, and the whites run the gamut from light Sauvignon Blancs to fruity Rieslings. Be sure to check out the newest addition to the area's white wine production—crisp, fragrant Northern Italian whites like pinot grigio.
Many of the most unique wine varieties here are not yet common exports, so be sure to take advantage of your time in New Zealand to sample these distinctive local products.