I recently pointed out in Save Spain's old vines, and Garnacha that, according to the OIV’s most recent assessments, just two vine varieties account for 43% of all Spanish vineyards. But Spain is a riot of diversity compared with New Zealand, where 60% of all vines – and well over 60% of all wines – are Sauvignon Blanc.
NZ Sauvignon Blanc has been so successful, arguably the single most commercially successful combination of grape and country in the modern wine world, that there has been a massive incentive to plant ‘Savvy’ in New Zealand’s efficiently run vineyards.
The NZ SB...