Northland is the landscape north of the metropolis of Auckland, where a number of wineries produce wine. The hour of viticulture in New Zealand struck here when the first vines were planted in 1819 and James Busby, a pioneer of viticulture as well as agribusiness in New Zealand and Australia, produced his first wine here in 1830. The Northland is quite warm and records some of the highest temperatures in New Zealand. Winters are less cold than elsewhere on the North and South Islands. The temperature differences between day and night are also relatively small due to the influence of the sea nearby. Since rainfall is relatively frequent in northern New Zealand and fog can also occur, vineyard locations must be carefully selected for the production of top wines. The majority of the approximately 550 hectares of vineyards are therefore located on the eastern side of the island on protected terrain. The soil is mostly fertile clay with a bedrock subsoil. The warm climate allows for the production of white wine as well as red wine, with the reds being either Bordeaux blends or Syrah. Most Northland wines do not reach Europe, but are drunk locally or in Australia.
