Waipara, Wairarapa and other confusing wine names

Last Monday, just before leaving New Zealand for Australia, I was asked to talk to the country’s Pinot Noir producers about exporting and the UK market in particular. One of many topics I was asked to address was the question of branding and naming. I couldn’t help pointing out that to a foreigner like me, the naming of many New Zealand wines and wine regions is decidedly confusing.

Two of the more important regions, for example, both specialising in Pinot Noir, are called Wairarapa (in the North Island, near Wellington) and Waipara (in the South Island near...