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Canterbury Wines and WineriesAt the heart of the Canterbury wine region is the picturesque and very English city of Christchurch.The region is dominated by the vast and empty Canterbury plains. These plains stretch from the magnificent Southern Alps to the east coat of the South Island. Amongst the very best of Canterbury's forty wineries are:
While a relatively new wine region - the first vineyard was planted in 1977 - Canterbury is becoming well known and appreciated for its Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir wines. The soils of the region are stony and alluvial. The climate is hot and dry in summer, and often cool, clear and frosty in winter. Almost all of Canterbury's wineries can be reached after a short drive from Christchurch. They are however located over a number of areas. To the east of Christchurch are the wineries of Banks Peninsula, to the south are those of Burnham, and to the north are those of the rapidly expanding Waipara sub-region. Is your site listed on winesofnz.com? With over 10,000 page views per month can you afford not to be? |
New Zealand wine regions - follow a link for visitor information and listings of top wineries. Events Diary (cont)February Canterbury Wine and Food Festival, Sunday 27 February 2005, North Hagley Park, 10am - 6pm Whitestone Waitaki Wine and Food Festival, February, Public Gardens, Oamaru. For information telephone +64 3 439 5284. Dunedin Food and Wine Festival, Woodhaugh Gardens, Dunedin. For information telephone +64 3 453 6678. March Hokitika Wild Food Festival, 13 March 2004, Cass Square, Hokitika, Westland. For information telephone (03) 755 8321. New Zealand Organic Food and Wine Festival, March, Oamaru. For information telephone (03) 434 7573. Waipara Wine & Food Celebration, 28 March 2004, Waipara. For information free phone 0800 442 663 October Gardenz 2003, 24 to 27 October 2003, North Hagley Park, Christchurch November Four Vineyards and an Olive Grove Festival, November 1 and 2, 2003, Waipara. Canterbury A & P Show, 12 to 14 November, Canterbury Agricultural Park, Wigram, Christchurch. |
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Fiddler's Green Wines has a mission to produce handcrafted estate grown wines of consistently high quality, style and elegance for the discerning consumer. It is a foundation member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, which provides a framework for environmentally and economically sustainable viticultural practices. All grapes are estate grown and hand picked at low cropping levels. Fiddler's Green is owned and operated by The Johns Family, Waipara, North Canterbury, New Zealand and is rated by Cuisine Wine Annual as a "must visit, not to be missed" vineyard. The land on which the vineyard is established was acquired in 1994 and overlooks the Waipara river. Situated on Georges Road, the vineyard announces itself to the world by it’s imposing double gates and entrance way. Olive trees line the driveway which opens up to a Mediterranean style wine sales building set amongst the vines. The vineyard comprises a total planted area of 35 acres in four grape varieties: Riesling, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. It is a superior vineyard site located on a north-facing terrace . The climate of the Waipara Valley is typified by hot dry summers and long autumns which yield grapes of intense flavour and optimal ripeness. For information contact: Fiddler's Green Wines, Georges Rd, Waipara, New Zealand, PO Box 81 Amberley, phone +64 3 314 6979, Fax: +64 3 314 6978, Email fiddler@xtra.co.nz. |
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Floating Mountain Vineyard lies in the hub of the Waipara region. It was established in 1982 by then owner and former New Zealand Cabinet Minister, Derek Quigley. It was subsequently purchased, in 1988, by Mark & Michelle Rattray. The vineyard is now dedicated to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with additional areas of Sauvignon Blanc and Scheurebe, (a Riesling derivative). In spite of its small size, Floating Mountain exports to several countries including Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Denmark, America and the U.K. where, in 1995, at London's International Wine Challenge, Mark Rattray's 1993 Pinot Noir was the only New Zealand red to win a gold medal. The endless quest for excellence continues. For more information contact: Mark Rattray, PO Box 1, Waipara, Canterbury, phone: +64 3 3146710, fax: +64 3 3146710, Email: m.rattray@xtra.co.nz. |
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Giesen Wine Estate is one of Canterbury's oldest wineries, the Region's largest winery and one of its best. Operated by the Giesen brothers - Alex, Marcel and Theo - the winery is best known for its award winning Botrytis Riesling. This wine owes its origins to a fungus known as botrytis cinerea or noble rot. The fungus covers grapes by the bunch, absorbs the water inside the grape and leaves a concentrated nectar of juice within the skin of the grape. The affected grapes are then hand picked and the juice extracted and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The result is a sweet and pungent wine with very high levels of residual sugar (around 100 to 150 gms per litre). In colour the wine is golden, and in taste it is reminiscent of dried fruits, honey and apricot. The wine is not made every year. The 1990 vintage was judged best wine of the Royal Easter Wine Show, and the 1995 vintage awarded close to a dozen gold medals. As well as Riesling, the Giesen brothers produce a very good Pinot Noir, which was awarded a Gold Medal at the Royal Easter Wine Show 2000. Recent success include gold at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2001 for the winery's Canterbury Riesling 200, a spot in the Sydney Top 100 2001 for the winery's Canterbury Riesling 2000 and silver at the International Wine Challenge 2000 in London for both its Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 1999 and its Reserve Barrel Selection Marlborough Chardonnay 1998. For more information contact: Theo, Alex & Marcel Giesen, PO Box 11066, Christchurch, phone: +64 3 3476729, fax: +64 3 3476450, Email: info@giesen.co.nz. |
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Kaituna Valley Wines is owned by Grant and Helen Whelan and produces Canterbury's best Pinot Noir wine. The first vintage was made in 1993 and won the trophy for champion Pinot Noir at the 1995 Royal Easter Wine Show. The 1998 Pinot Noir was judged in 2000 as one of New Zealand's very best red wines by Cuisine magazine . The Awatere Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 1999 was judged Champion Pinot Noir of the Show at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2000, its The Awatere Vineyard 2000 was awarded champion Pinot Noir at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2001, and its Kaituna Vineyard 2000 Pinot Noir a gold at the 2001 Air New Zealand Wine Awards. Grapes for these wines are sourced from two vineyards. The Kaituna Valley vineyard was planted in 1977 and is located on the hills of Bank's Peninsula, to the east of Christchurch. It was the regions first vineyard, and was part of the acclaimed 1982 St Helena Pinot Noir wine. The winery owns a second vineyard located in the Awatere Valley of Marlborough. Production of these wines is small, and the best way to buy them is through order. For more information contact: Grant & Helen Whelan, 230 Kaituna Valley Road, RD 2, Christchurch, phone: +64 3 3290110, fax: +64 3 3290113, Email: kaituna.valley@xtra.co.nz. |
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Montana Wines' Corbans private Bin Amberley Riesling one of the wines that put Canterbury on the wine map. Originally marketed by Robard and Butler, Amberley Riesling came to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s with competition success. Made from grapes grown in the Waipara sub-region, Amberley Riesling has a reputation for its consistent quality. The wine is characterised by tight citrus and lime flavours and is widely available. |
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Muddy Water enjoyed its first vintage in 1997. It is situated on sunny slopes above the Waipara Valley. Made up of the words wai (water) and para (sediment), Waipara translates as Muddy Water. The climate of the sub-region is typified by hot dry summers and long sunny autumns leading to the production of intensely flavoured ripe grapes. Owner Jane East with winemaker Belinda Gould take a hands on approach to the production of small volume premium wines. Low cropping levels result from intense canopy management. All the grapes are hand picked and estate grown. Wines to buy are Pinot Noir and Riesling. Muddy Water was also awarded a silver medal for its Chardonnay 1999 at the International Wine Competition 2000 in London. The winery features probably the largest straw bale building in New Zealand, which was built for the 2000 harvest. Visits to the winery are by appointment only. For more information contact: Michael & Jane East, PO Box 36011, Christchurch, phone: +64 3 3777123, fax: +64 3 3777130, Email: wine@muddywater.co.nz. |
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Pegasus Bay is located in the Waipara district of Canterbury, about thirty minutes north of Christchurch. As you approach the winery from the south, you will be struck by its distinctive architecturally designed buildings, its carefully planted gardens and large pond. Pegasus Bay's wines are made by Lynette Hudson and Mathew Donaldson. Their annual release is eagerly awaited and the 1999 Riesling is regarded as one of the best ever produced in New Zealand. Pegasus Bay is also well regarded for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Riesling grape however, is particularly well suited to Canterbury. It's a grape that likes to ripen slowly, and if left to late Autumn, develops intense flavours. The Pegasus Bay Riesling is characterised by intense citrus and honey flavours, and rewards cellaring for at least three years. Second tier wines from the winery are marketed under the "Main Divide" label. If visiting the winery be sure to sample Pegasus wines with food at the winery restaurant. For more information contact: Prof. Ivan Donaldson, Stockgrove Road, RD 2, Waipara, Amberley, North Canterbury, phone: +64 3 3146869, fax: +64 3 3146869, Email: info@pegasusbay.com. |
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© Michael Mills, WinesofNZ.com, 2000 & 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Wellington, New Zealand. No part of this website may be reproduced in any form, electronic or printed, without the permission of Michael Mills and WinesofNZ.com
