It's raining everywhere as I write, except the one place it counts - Waiheke Island.

This, according to the winemakers giving me their latest PR banter. They come, of course, from the most populated island in the Hauraki Gulf; Waiheke.
Today Waiheke Island is virtually a suburb of Auckland, despite its historical status as a haven for hippies, alternate lifestylers and anyone else who wanted to bow out of the nasty fast pace of Auckland city.
The island's first modern winemakers fitted loosely into all or some of those categories, and surprised the country's wine industry with the top reds they made in the 1980s.
Today it's a different story. The island's wines are still mostly red, still good and still made in tiny quantities. They are no longer made merely from a motley crew of old wave cabernet sauvignon and its usual bed pals of choice – merlot, malbec and cabernet franc.
Today Waiheke winemakers are making syrah, montepulciano and, much as it pains this ABCer (Anything-But-Chardonnay drinker) to say it, even some absolutely outstanding chardonnay.
Their wines are better because their grapes are better.
Syrah ripens far earlier than cabernet sauvignon; montepulciano gets sweeter, riper flavours more swiftly than many reds do and the cabernet they use is superior to what they started with.
The newest winery on Waiheke is Hay Paddock.
Owned by Kiwi wine industry veterans Chris Canning and Brian Mogridge, Hay Paddock has already made a large splash into the world's wine ocean – winning a gold medal at the world's biggest wine competition in London this year (the 2009 International Wine Challenge) for its first commercially released syrah.
Usually I steer as far away from press releases as possible, especially when they declare medal-winning wines, but this time it's worth a mention because the wine is so good. I was gob smacked by the sweet but not over the top flavours of the 2007 Hay Paddock Harvest Man Syrah, even if it is a $35 to $40 wine
Organisers of the Waiheke tasting said it was an aging process getting 17 Waiheke winemakers together on one day with 60 wines. The good news is – many Waiheke wines have better potential to improve with age than they ever had in past years.
After checking out a couple of old faves at the Waiheke Island wine tasting in Auckland this year, I discovered some clear stand-outs. Apologies for not mentioning every good Waiheke wine here. There are always more blogs, columns and column centimetres to fill. Watch this space.
Find out more about Waiheke Island wine at: www.waihekewine.co.nz

Star Waiheke Island wines from SunLive's wine writer, Joelle Thomson

2007 Hay Paddock Syrah $35-40
Stunning, juicy red newcomer. www.haypaddock.co.nz

2005 Dunleavy Waiheke Island Cabernet Merlot $25
Refined gorgeous cabernet blended with merlot. www.temotu.co.nz

2005 Te Motu Cabernet Merlot $75
Ouch on the price but wow – a sensational Te Motu. Possibly the best ever, definitely a contender. www.temotu.co.nz

2008 Weeping Sands Montepulciano $30
A dark horse with 14 per cent alcohol, deep purple colour and masses of juicy flavours. www.obsidian.co.nz

2007 Cable Bay Chardonnay $40
Outstanding Waiheke white wine. Refreshing, bright flavours and a lingering rounded finish. More, please. www.cablebayvineyards.co.nz