As we come into summer, many Kiwis and travellers are considering activities to do and new locations to visit. One of those locations on many Cantabrian’s summer list is the beautiful valley of waipara for wine tastings, where there are a vast range of beautiful wineries which pepper the landscape. When you think of New Zealand wines, most people usually think of our most famous wines from the Marlborough and Otago areas. However, little do they know that Waipara is actually an excellent wine region in New Zealand. It’s all to do with the unique geography of this area. Situated on the banks of the Waipara River, Waipara’s wineries are sheltered from the cold, prevailing easterly winds thanks to the Teviot hills and is therefore the warmest and driest of all the wine regions of New Zealand. Temperatures in summer can soar and with little rain it makes it a perfect location for growing Pinot noir, Riesling and Chardonnay vines. As a result, Waipara is home to over 80 vineyards and 26 wineries – some of which are award winners for their superior white wines. With so much to choose from, we though it may be worth looking at Leisure Tours top five Waipara wineries that can be visited from Christchurch.
Best Wineries In Canterbury
Here are our top picks for wineries with tastings that can be visited from Christchurch. Please note that these wineries are in no particular order.
Waipara Springs Winery
Established in 1981 and opened in 1989, Waipara Springs is a third generation, family owned and runned vineyard, winery and restaurant. It’s open seven days a week (excluding public holidays) and offers both incredible wine and food. Their large 26 hectare vineyard is planted with a variety of vines including Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir. This particular vineyard and winery is well situated too, as the soil has good PH levels and is made up of highlevels of clay and limestone. Similarly, Waipara Springs put strong empahasis on the quality of their fruit, which has resulted in some superior wine production which is enjoyed both locally and internationally. Waipara Springs has an onsite cellar door where all of their wines can be sampled and an excellent restuarant where a delicious lunch and breakfast can be enjoyed. Their charming outdoor seating area and boutique wine shop make this one of the must visit wineries in the Waipara region.
Waipara Hills
Possibly one of the most noticable and grandest wineries of the region, Waipara Hills is a favourite for many locals and tourists alike for it’s beauty and sheer scale. The vineyards are made up of three distinct locations titled The Mound, Deans, and Home Block. These are located close to the Waipara River which give many of their wines distinct mineral qualities and aeromatic aromas. As with many wineries of the region, they are well known for their Rieslings and Pinot Gris, however Waipara Hills also plants a number of grapes including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay as well as selected plantings of Grüner Veltliner and Gewürztraminer, giving Waipara Hills a premium range of truly excellent wine. Fortunately, you will be able to sample many of these at their celler door, where knowledgable staff will guide you through the tasting of Waipara Hill’s unique wines. Here you will also be able to pick up a selection of NZ made gifts, artwork, wine accessories, and of course some of their award winning bottles.
Pegasus Bay
Being a family owned winery, the Donaldson family have been involved in the wine industry since the 1970s and were some of the first planters of this region. Legend has it that the founder Ivan Donaldson first became fascinated with viticulture and wine making when his then girlfriend gave him a book simply titled “Wine”. Ivan then explored the wine regions before coming back here to marry his girlfriend, Christine or “Chris” as she’s better known, and begin the process of growing and making their own wine. Now they operate the stunning boutique winery of Pegasus Bay, which they have owned and operated as a family business for thirty five years. With it’s location being strategically nestled near the Teviotdale Range, this vineyard is both perfectly sheltered from the aforementioned prevailing eastly winds and recieved plenty of sunlight over the summer. With great soil quality, this produces some well ripened and great tasting grapes for wine production. In fact, Pegasus Bay boast some of the largest varieties of wine in the region including sauvignon semillon, reisling, gewürztraminer, muscat, pinot gris, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot cabernet, malbec, and even more with their Reserve and Vergence range, making this winery a must visit for wine tastings.
Torlesse Wines
Taking it’s name from the early Cantabrian resident Charles Torlesse, Torlesse Wines started their humble beginnings in a farm woolshed back in 1987 before moving to it’s perment location of Waipara in 1991. From then on they started producing their own wines, making Torlesse one of the oldest wineries in the region – though Glenmark Wines by John McCaskey still share some of their production facilities. In 2000, Torlesse built and opened the Torlesse Cellar Door where their excellent wine can be sampled and purchased. Much of the grapes here are handpicked too and many of their wines feature a the screw cap as opposed to the standard corks, something that Torlesse argues gives their wine “consistency and graceful aging”. Their vineyards are seperated into 4 distinct locations including the Winery Block, the McKenzie Vineyard, Waipara Fields, and the Rayner Vineyard. They even opened their own Biodiversity trail including a variety of plant life which can be viewd by the public. Their cellar door and tasting room offers a number of excellent wines for sampling and purchase including Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Rose, Pinot Gris, Verdelho, Riesling, Albarino, Merlot, along with select bottles of Creme de Cassis and Tawny.
Terrace Edge
Opened in 1999, Terrace Edge is one of the youngest wineries on this list. With that said, this family owned vineyard holds it owns with the other great wineries of this area for producing some truly exceptional wine. What would become Terrace Edge originally started as a sheep farm in waipara. It wasn’t until olive trees were planted in the lower terrace did the land begin to transform, however the discovery of frost on their first plantings forced the family to move their crop to a much suitable location. The family then sent their youngest son, Pete, off to university to study Viticulture. After which, Pete took over operation of the winery and now Terrace Edge is a succesful, fully functional winery in Waipara with a terrific portfolio of wines. A visit to their tasting room will allow you to sample a range of delicious, aromatic wines including Albarino, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rose, St Laurent, and Syrah. You can also pick up a bottle of their rich olive oil if you so choose. Like our very own Travel Club, Terrace Edge also offers a Wine Club where you can take advantage of some great deals and discounts.
Visit The Waipara Wine Region
Are you looking for a fun afternoon activity? Wish to celebrate a special event with some wine tastings? Then why not join our Waipara Wine Tour from Christuchurch where we visit four of the wineries listed above for tastings. Our tour guides offer intersting information about the region and you will be treated to a wide variety of different wines from each wineries, along with information about the grapes and plantings. You’ll even be able to pick up a bottle or two of your favourite wines. For those wanting to stay in Waipara a little longer, then our Wine Trail with Lunch included is our perfect option for you. Check out some of our tours and book your own Waipara Wine Trail today!
