These days, New Zealand’s cinematic achievements and stellar environmental record are famous all over the world, but this nation’s breathtaking scenery nurtures even more gems: numerous wine-growing regions that are gaining in notoriety and reputation every day. Nobilo Winery, based in the North Island, has been at the forefront of the country’s thriving industry since 1943, when Nikola Nobilo came to New Zealand from Croatia, bringing his family history and winemaking background with him. Today, Nobilo wines are enjoyed across the globe in fine restaurants, luxury airlines, and discerning homes, and that’s just the beginning.
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It hasn’t always been this way. New Zealand’s initial wave of Croatian settlers, including Nikola Nobilo, simply wanted to create wines that would suit their traditional European tastes. They somehow managed to attain this goal, despite the inhospitable climate of West Auckland, which many of them called home.
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Still, they persevered, raising hybrid grape varieties and churning out fortified wines until the 1970s, when the passion for quality wine production took hold. Nobilo Winery recognized this opportunity to expand its business and seek additional sites suitable for the development of vineyards. This diversity of sites means that Nobilo can choose the best grapes possible for its vintages.
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Nobilo’s offerings include both red and white wines, such as selections of merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot gris, and riesling. But it’s the sauvignon blanc that’s piqued the 
interest of critics and consumers alike. At the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London in 2000, the Nobilo Icon Sauvignon Blanc 1999 picked up the prized international trophy for the best sauvignon blanc, and British Airways currently offers Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to its passengers. These were truly some of the best white wines I?ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.
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I was honored to be included in a select group of guests in Los Angeles that were among the first in the United States to sample Nobilo’s new sauvignon blancs. Nobilo’s lead winemaker Darryl Woolley flew halfway around the world to team up with local chef Chris Behre. Together, they presented an interactive cooking session at L.A. Food Works in Hollywood, with tips on prepping New Zealand-inspired cuisine and the wine pairings to go with the dishes. We all took part in constructing the dishes that went with each wine.?
As befits an island nation, seafood is a popular choice to pair with Nobilo’s sauvignon 
blancs. Scallops, prawns, mackerel, and oysters are ideal accompaniments to this exquisite white wine, the light, fresh flavors complementing each other. Additionally, Nobilo’s merlots pair well with beef, while the company’s chardonnay suits chicken dishes beautifully.
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France and California, watch out: There’s a new wine-growing region in town, and it’s learning fast. Just as it dramatically raised the bar in the film industry, New Zealand is now making waves with its wines, thanks to the Nobilo Wine Group and all its associated labels. The critics have spoken, and so has the public, boosting the New Zealand wine industry by 108 percent in dollar sales and volume in the last year. Ultimately, however, tasting is believing; let Nobilo’s 2006 Sauvignon Blancs make a believer out of you.
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