Visit New Zealand’s wine regions, from the comfort of your home
The top-rated wine you need to add to your wine collection
It’s no secret that some of the most stunning wineries can be found in New Zealand, offering spectacular coastline and rolling hill views.
An hour north of the bustling city of Christchurch sits the North Canterbury region in New Zealand’s South Island. Home to several international and domestic award-winning cellar doors, what makes the region special for Pinot Noir is the soil that benefits from gravel deposits from its eponymous river plus limestone-derived clays on the hillsides.
Whilst we might not be able to visit in person for a short while, there are lots of ways Aussies can enjoy the delicious taste from the comfort of your home. We’ll drink to that!
With many still self-isolating at home and Pinot Noir Day on the horizon (18th August), we’ve picked out the four best NZ wines that should be in your collection.
This small family-owned winery is one of North Canterbury’s most iconic vineyards with manicured gardens, ponds and footbridges and, of course, its wide selection of wines. Located in the Waipara Valley it has a range of stunning Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and Pinot Noir wines. The Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir is a delicate dry red with lots of complexity and displays supple and ripe tannins. It’s the perfect bottle to enjoy with chicken, duck, spicy dishes and beefsteak.
The people behind Waipara Hills wines do everything with soul, creativity and heat. Each bottle produced is a reflection of the maker’s home in North Canterbury and its people. The vineyard produces some of New Zealand’s top wines to have been crowned champions every year since 2014. The Waipara Hills Central Otago Pinot Noir combines dark cherry, plum, spice aromas and savoury flavours. A fine acid structure and silky tannins leave a long lingering finish.
Home to striking architecture and organic wines, this family business is one of Waipara’s gems. Less than an hour from Christchurch, you can spend the journey admiring the view of the Southern Alps. Each wine is exceptional, but we recommend the organic Black Estate ‘Home’ Pinot Noir 2016. It’s soft but structural, crisp and alluring, with fresh berry fruits, earth, custard, sandalwood and lead. You can drink from now to 2025.
Surrounded by rolling hills, lush grass and endless vine views, Terrace Edge is another family-owned, organic vineyard and olive grove. The main variety is Pinot Noir, and you can walk around the Pinot Noir vines when you visit. Its award-winning Pinot Noir 2016 is a darkish ruby-red colour with slight purple hues and it’s a must for any wine lover’s collection with sweet and spicy flavours of dark-red berry fruits that fill the mouth.
All the wines mentioned are available at leading Australian liquor stores or online through independent sellers. It’s never been easier to taste some of North Canterbury’s Pinot Noir from the comfort of your own home.
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