{"id":3535,"date":"2021-05-23T22:40:54","date_gmt":"2021-05-23T22:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=3535"},"modified":"2021-05-23T22:48:31","modified_gmt":"2021-05-23T22:48:31","slug":"north-canterbury-waipara-valley-pt-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=3535","title":{"rendered":"North Canterbury – Waipara Valley pt.1"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Visiting the North Canterbury wine region, I\u2019ll assume you\u2019re setting off from Christchurch to the south, and you\u2019ll be in Waipara in well under an hour, so don\u2019t rush. Take time to drop into one of the roadside caf\u00e9s and start your adventure off at the right pace \u2013 slowly.<\/p>

Pukeko Junction<\/strong> at Leithfield<\/strong> is an obvious choice, and a family-friendly option. Everything here is home-made, and is got a real buzz to the vibe as you step out into the country. As well as the caf\u00e9 side to the business, there\u2019s a bountiful deli on one side too, so you could pack the chilly bin with goodies. Another quirky choice would be the converted school buildings at Old School Collective<\/strong> in Waikuku<\/strong>. A destination that offers not just a cuppa, but some seriously trendy shopping to boot. There\u2019s nine individual lifestyle and retail businesses operating on-site, including yoga, florist and antiques. The caf\u00e9, like the other offerings, have taken root in the school buildings \u2013 it\u2019s in the old office, and called Office Caf\u00e9<\/strong>. Love that.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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If I were you I\u2019d also be thinking about planning a brief stop in Amberley<\/strong>. As small towns in New Zealand go, this is surely in the Top 10 (I know) for awesomeness. There\u2019s a lovely beach just out of town \u2013 with a basic but well-located, quiet campsite. It has some seriously great building dotted around town, some of which feature on an artwork in what might be one of the best caf\u00e9s in the country. Big call, but Little Vintage Espresso<\/strong> could easily claim that crown. The stream of locals pouring in, lingering, then departing laden with bags of baked treasure pay homage to how popular this little gem is. The fact that it\u2019s only a hundred yards from Brew Moon Brewing Co.<\/strong> and on the same road \u2013 Markham Street – as a superb pie shop \u2013 Amberley Pies<\/strong> – helps too!! There\u2019s also a Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Cripes, I could live here.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Right, stop stuffing your cake hole, and get back on the road to where the wine action starts. Waipara Valley is part of the region known as North Canterbury, and has the bulk of the wineries if you\u2019re had something yummy from \u2018Waipara\u2019 before. Since it\u2019s easily confused or misspelled as Wairarapa \u2013 another region north of Wellington \u2013 it\u2019s thrown its hat in with the new regional identity.<\/p>

I\u2019d say that riesling is the signature wine of the region. Made in a range of styles, from steely and bone dry, to rich and unctuous \u2013 great food wines. With plenty of limestone in the landscape, there\u2019s also the chance to make the great wines associated with Burgundy \u2013 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from here are both fantastic. In fact, a few places really specialise in just those two. However, don\u2019t discount the Pinot Gris from North Canterbury. A wine that\u2019s increasingly been taken more seriously by growers and cropped to a lower yield can produce some stunning examples.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Throw in a bit of Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurz \u2013 it\u2019s a great fine wine destination!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Perhaps the first winery you\u2019ll encounter heading north is one of the area\u2019s most famous \u2013 Pegasus Bay<\/strong>. Founded by the Donaldson family and still very much family-run. It has five family members in the day-to-day operations, from sales to winemaking and events management. The restaurant here was legendary, but closed during the first big COVID lockdowns. It\u2019s now being put to good use with a series of collaborative dinner sessions, and is still very popular as an event space.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The wine here is world class. I recently reviewed a 2011 Riesling<\/strong> at 94\/100 \u2013 www.winefolio.co.nz\/?p=3505 and there\u2019s a review ready to upload to the site this week of the 2016 \u2018Prima Donna\u2019 Pinot Noir<\/strong> that I rate at 96\/100!! The sweet wines here are to die for \u2013 possibly the best in New Zealand. And their \u2018regular\u2019 Pinot Noir is superb too. Their \u2018Vergence\u2019 range offers new, modern takes on classic varietals \u2013 they come in \u2018White\u2019 and \u2018Red\u2019. Even on days when the Cellar Door is closed \u2013 it\u2019s open weekends from 10am to 4pm currently (but it\u2019s usually operating 7 days a week in Summer), people come just to tour the gardens.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Waipara Hills<\/strong> is probably \u2018the big place in town\u2019. It\u2019s a great hall of a place, with a substantial carpark that reflects its popularity. When we visited on a Saturday lunchtime things were in full swing, with crowds of people at tables groaning with glasses of wine and food flowing out from the kitchens. Staff bustled everywhere as the sun shone on the outdoor terrace. Its website states \u2018Welcome to the soul of the south\u2019. They\u2019re currently open from Thursday to Monday 10 til 5, and you can book a table in the caf\u00e9 online for lunch that might feature local venison, salmon and olives. With a range of vineyards to choose from, including a Home Block planted and overseen by Vineyard Manager Jean-Luc Dufour in the \u201890s.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Available at the Cellar Door is the Saving Grace<\/strong> range as well as the Waipara Hills wines. Riesling is a standout, where Waipara\u2019s long autumn ripening leave the aromatic varietals full of intense flavour and complexity. The Waipara Hills Riesling has a place on my table any day \u2013 with around 18 g\/L of residual sugar, it\u2019s a lovely balanced drop with great acidity to round out the sweet, ripe fruitiness. The Cellar Door is hard to miss, on SH1 as you near Waipara township, across the highway from the wineries on Georges Road.\u00a0www.waiparahills.co.nz<\/a>\u00a0or call 03 314 6900.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Straight ahead over the road is Georges Road and you\u2019ll find a few wineries and attractions of note along here. All the places along this stretch enjoy beautiful views of the mountains.<\/p>

First up is Fiddler\u2019s Green vineyard and Bistro<\/strong> at no. 246. Open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11am until the Bistro closes at 10pm. I was in town on a Tuesday so didn\u2019t get to sample their hospitality, but judging by the feedback online for this place, it has to be worth a look! You can book a tour of the organic vineyard, then settle in for a tasting and lunch \u2013 or dinner, overlooking the vines whilst the kids explore the playground. If you\u2019re just here for a tasting, you\u2019ll find some other local wines on offer, as they stock wines from boutique vineyards that don\u2019t have a Cellar Door of their own – wines like Mon Cheval<\/strong> and Harris Estate<\/strong>. \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The relaxed atmosphere allows for tasting during a meal as well as in the usual position at the Tasting Room bar.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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A little further along, at no.328 Georges Road is Terrace Edge Wines<\/strong>. Regular readers of WineFolio will recognise this label after their 2015 Syrah was judged 4th<\/sup>\u00a0in our Syrah Top 10 Tasting \u2013\u00a0www.winefolio.co.nz\/?p=3198<\/a>\u00a0and the Pinot Gris made the \u2018Top 10 wines of 2019\u2019\u00a0www.winefolio.co.nz\/?p=1132<\/a>. <\/u>The property was a spontaneous purchase, after the Chapman family had been on holiday, and thought it would be a great place to escape to on weekends! Planted with olives initially, there\u2019s been plenty of developments in the vineyards as they discover the variations of the site. One part in particular is planted to Syrah on a 45 degree slope overlooking the Waipara River.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Aromatics are also worth discovering here \u2013 the Pinot Gris is that rich medium-dry style that I love, and the Riesling \u2013 often a highlight of any tasting in Waipara \u2013 is glorious here too. They do a wine called \u2018Liquid Geography\u2019 as a nod to Riesling’s character being shaped by the land where it is grown. This has great seasonal variation with botrytis and harvest conditions playing a huge part in the personality of the bottled wine \u2013 this year it\u2019s 28 g\/l of residual sugars, but has been up to 45g\/l in other years. The Tasting room has recently been update and it\u2019s a beautiful space, with a lovely outdoor area if the weather is playing ball. Open Thursday to Sunday 11am to 4.30pm, with a Food & Wine Experience on offer if you book ahead.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Also along this stretch is Georges Road Wines<\/strong> \u2013 founded in 2004 by Kirk and Alison, producing Syrah, Riesling, Ros\u00e9 and Pinot Gris from their stony, free-draining soils. I didn\u2019t get time to pop in but they are open at weekends 11am-4pm, and by appointment during the week.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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There\u2019s a lovely looking outdoor area, and a tasting is $10, refunded on purchase of wine. If you\u2019re keen to stay, they even have a \u201cWine Pad\u201d accommodation, bookable through AirBnB. At 625 Georges Rd, phone 021 121 8669 and check out their website on www.georgesroadwines.co.nz<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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At the end of the road, you\u2019ll find The Boneline<\/strong>, which began planting in 1989 and now has over 60 acres of vines. I was due to visit in my recent trip and was looking forward to seeing their picturesque vineyards, and trying the wines. A cancellation means another visit at another time for me, but the Cellar Door is open 7 days a week from 11am to 4.30pm for visitors. I\u2019d be looking out for one of my favourite varieties, the Cabernet Franc, which also goes into their \u2018Iridium\u2019 \u2013 a red blend; and Mendoza-clone \u2018Sharkstone\u2019 Chardonnay, plus a Sauvignon Blanc.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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At 376 Ram Paddock Road, call 03 314 8699 and take a look at their excellent website – www.theboneline.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Finally, whilst you\u2019re down this end, you could call into Iron Ridge Quarry sculpture park<\/strong> for a bit of R&R and a break from the vino. It\u2019s the home of Raymond Herber who works mainly in steel, creating pieces of art in anything from small scale, to kinetic and large \u2018public\u2019 size artworks. His work is shown against a backdrop of limestone hills, and in his native garden, plus a sizeable gallery in the old Limeworks buildings. It\u2019s $10 per person to visit the sculpture gardens. Take a look at\u00a0www.raymondherber.com\/iron-ridge-sculpture-park<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Look out for Part 2 of our visit and guide to Waipara Valley which will be online in the near future – visiting Black Estate, Torlesse, Greystone, Waipara Springs and many more…<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Visiting the North Canterbury wine region, I\u2019ll assume you\u2019re setting off from Christchurch to the south, and you\u2019ll be in Waipara in well under an hour, so don\u2019t rush. 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