"Where the Southern Alps tumble down to meet extensive lowlands, boutique producers craft outstanding Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and fine aromatic wines.
The Canterbury wine region spans nearly 200km of the South Island’s eastern coastline, with the magnificent Alps to the west and the sweeping Pacific Ocean to the east. The region has an excellent reputation for elegant and expressive Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and aromatics, with other varieties achieving outstanding results. The cool, dry climate with high sunshine and a long growing season promotes full varietal expression.
Vineyards were first established on the Canterbury Plains in 1978, with plantings to the south-west of Christchurch and North Canterbury following close behind. Today vines are planted from Waimate in the south, to Cheviot in the north, and include the micro-climates of Banks Peninsula and Waipara Valley. The latter has drawn critical acclaim for its sub-regional expression. Exploration into new sub-regions forecasts exciting depth and diversity for the area's future wine offerings." - Wine NZ
"Canterbury’s stunning Waipara Valley region is one of the unsung heroes of the wine industry." - Bob Campbell MW, 2004, Air NZ Inflight Magazine
Map adapted from Vineyards.com
