How lucky are we to have such fantastic wine country right on our doorstep? Canterbury’s vineyards make for the perfect summer get-away, either for a day or longer. Hop aboard as Cityscape tours the terroir.

LONG LUNCH

Several wineries in the Canterbury region have elevated their cuisine offerings to the point where they are known almost as much for their food as their wine. There’s not a lot that can beat a languid al fresco session over some top drops and outstanding fare out in the beautiful Canterbury hinterland! Draw straws for sober driver, then head for:

Black Estate Crafting characterful drops, Black Estate is a family-owned and operated winery, tasting room and restaurant. Savour the sumptuous combination of fine, locally sourced fare with their exquisite wines while drinking in the equally impressive vistas across the rolling Waipara hills. Their expressive winemaking process is reflected in their spectacular seasonal dishes, which earned them the Cuisine magazine award for Best Winery Restaurant 2019 and two Hats in the Cuisine Good Food Awards. With a delicious range of gourmet dishes and perfectly aged or current organic wines available, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Pegasus Bay Owned and operated by the pioneering Donaldson family, Pegasus Bay is often referred to as the leading producer of fine wine in the Waipara region (and country). The prime location of the vineyard provides shelter from the elements, allowing for intense flavour development and optimal ripeness, resulting in bold, complex and full-flavoured wines. The winery restaurant matches the exceptional quality of their wines; from 2008 – 2012 it was named New Zealand’s Winery Restaurant of the Year by Cuisine magazine for five consecutive years, also picking up the gong in 2015 and 2016. Select your wine to lunch with following a tasting at the cellar door, or leave it to the experts with a professionally paired suggestion from the outstanding menu.

Fiddler’s Green Vineyard & Bistro If you are on the hunt for a spot to pull up a pew and while away a couple of hours, then Fiddler’s Green Vineyard & Bistro is for you. With head chef Viv van den Bosch at the helm, you can expect a tasty combination of European-inspired and Kiwi favourites as well as comforting pub-style dishes that will entice and delight. Take your pick from their selection of wines or indulge in others from the surrounding Waipara Valley.

Other wineries with cuisine offerings include: Melton Estate – enjoy their signature Sparkling Riesling with a hearty antipasti platter. Waipara Springs Winery and Café – boutique wines matched to a sensational menu. Waipara Hills – fresh, seasonal dishes that pair perfectly with their award-winning wines.

CELLAR DOOR

What better way to try wines than at the source? You’ll find regular cellar door hours at Greystone Wines, where they also have vineyard tours from 11:30am every weekday, which come to an end at their new private tasting den. Also in Waipara is Muddy Water, where the cellar door is in operation from 10am – 5pm daily (don’t miss their Sugar Daddy Riesling) and Terrace Edge Vineyard & Olive Grove, a family-run organic vineyard whose tasting room is open Thursday to Sunday 11am – 4:30pm and showcases their pinot gris and other varieties. Torlesse Wines opens daily from 11am – 5pm. Further Waipara winery visits are possible by advanced appointment at Georges Road Wines, who are happy for you to try their syrah, pinot noir, pinot gris, riesling, rosé and noble riesling; Pyramid Valley Vineyards, who love to meet their customers and show off some product providing you can give them a little bit of warning; and as time allows at Bell Hill Vineyard and Bishops Head. North of Waipara you’ll find the Cheviot tasting room of Mt. Beautiful Wines, where you can also order up a platter from their Two Rivers Café (open daily) to go with tastings of their artisan drops; and Hanmer Springs’ Waiau River Estate, formerly known as Marble Point, where the cellar door is open Friday – Monday, 10am – 4pm, and where they’ll knock you up a tasty cheese platter – or you can endeavour to create your own – to go with their multi-award winning wines and great views over the Waiau River Valley. In Selwyn you can head for the ‘taste and buy’ of Rossendale’s medal-winning drops, open Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm and weekends by appointment; the boutique, family-owned Lone Goat Vineyard for tastings including sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir vineyard tours by arrangement; and Straight 8 Estate, whose cellar door is open daily and also houses a family heirloom and classic vintage racing car after which the vineyard is named – a 1935 Railton Light Sports.

OVERNIGHTER

Is heading back to the city in the evening just too distressing a prospect? Make it a proper getaway with boutique, on-vineyard accommodation… bliss. Award-winning Black Estate has a real hideaway B&B available on its Waipara Valley vineyard. The views are vast, expanding from the garden and vineyard to the majestic Southern Alps. Trail- and mountain-bikes are provided for you to use while staying. At Darnley Corner Wines in Waipara you can stay in their delightfully converted vineyard shed overlooking their boutique vineyard. Annie’s Loft & Studio offers secluded B&B accommodation at the Waipara River Estate; Dunnolly Cottage is a modern, private spot with a garden overlooking the Dunnolly Vineyard; and at House of Ball you can enjoy a tranquil retreat at their artisan vineyard operation in a stunning spot. For a super lux escape, the Greystone PurePod, perched above the Greystone Wines vineyards, features glass walls, ceiling and floor, meaning there’s something to see everywhere you look; while The Old Glenmark Vicarage is a truly wine-focused destination, with boutique rustic accommodation options and their own wines to try, making it a great base for your exploration of the Waipara vineyards.

TOURS

Take the effort out of organising things yourself (and give driving duties to someone else!) with a wine tour. Explore Waipara has a mission to share their passion for “the wines, the people and the region of Waipara” and they do this with bespoke, wine-focused tours. The tours are a full day and include lunch as well as a fabulous selection of wineries and wines. Through Explore Waipara, you can meet the people that make North Canterbury “the coolest little wine region in the country”. Other tour options are available through Waipara Wine and Craft Beer Tours.

If you prefer the gentler pace of cycling from vineyard to vineyard, Natural High offers a one-day Waipara Wine Tour by cycle. Or you can take the self-guided option of Hurunui Trails’ Waipara Valley Vineyard Trail.

To hire a bike, head to Action Bicycle Club in the city’s Walker Street. They have city bikes, mountain-bikes and e-bikes for hire, so there is something for everyone. They also stock a full range of new bikes and accessories, and can repair and service your bike if it has been too long hanging in the garage!

Connect

Organise a day out with your besties and get along to the North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival at Glenmark Domain on March 8. This showcase of the best of the Waipara region makes for a superb day of food, wine and music.

Take notice

Give your taste-buds a new experience by venturing outside your tried and true. Chic central-city wine bar Not Without You serves over 70 varieties of wine and more than 30 craft beers. With an industrial chic décor, NWY exudes quiet sophistication with a story that is uniquely Kiwi. Head to the Arts Centre for another chance to broaden your palate. The vino will be flowing at Cellar Door all summer long with the opening of this new bar in the School of Art building, which overlooks the picturesque South Quad. This laxed spot has a focus on the tasting experience as well as celebrating the provenance and personality that any good drop offers.

Be active

The brainchild of Pegasus Bay Winery’s Ivan Donaldson, the Pegasus Bay Vine Run (Jan 26) raises funds for the New Zealand Brain Research Institute. Do good for others and for yourself by registering for this fun 6km and 10km run or walk. Once you’ve reached the finish line you’ll be rewarded with a free bottle of Pegasus Bay’s finest to take home and live music to chill out to, with a glass or two of wine or beer on the winery’s lawn.