Wine Lists

The 20 best New Zealand wines newly reviewed by the Tasting Team

By Olivia Jay

22 Sep, 2026

From Marlborough whites to Central Otago pinot noir and outstanding Hawke’s Bay syrah, explore 20 of the latest New Zealand wine reviews from the Halliday Tasting Team.

Best of the New Zealand new releases

The Halliday Tasting Team – including Dave Brookes, Mike Bennie, Shanteh Wale and Jane Faulkner – has been busy reviewing the latest releases from across New Zealand, and we’ve gathered 20 of the top-scoring wines from their recent tastings.

Looking for a New Zealand white to add to your repertoire? Try the 2024 Seresin Estate Pinot Gris, awarded 95 points by Shanteh Wale, who calls it “Wonderful value and a great example of complex pinot gris grown in sunny Marlborough.”

For red wine drinkers, two Hawke’s Bay syrahs lead the way with 97 points apiece: the 2024 Craggy Range Le Sol and 2025 Bilancia La Collina. Dave Brookes calls the Craggy Range “An absolute cracker!” Prefer pinot noir? Felton Road’s 2025 Cornish Point from Central Otago earned 96 points, with Dave praising its pure dark fruit and spice.

Explore the full selection below: one rosé, eight whites and 11 reds, with tasting notes and scores to help you choose your next bottle.

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Sign up to view these tasting notes and ratings

By becoming a member of Wine Companion, you'll have access to the largest database of wines in Australia.

Top image credit: New Zealand Winegrowers Inc, Batch Winery.