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Taste and Buy Wine in Canterbury
Canterbury's golden, stony plains and hills are perfect climate for grape growing - crisply frosted in winter and scorched by the hot north-west wind in summer. No wonder Canterbury boasts so many quality wineries that welcome visitors for wine tours, wine tasting and refreshment.
The region's wines, especially Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, are prized for intense, concentrated flavours. So treat yourself to the fine Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot and other varieties produced here. And all of Canterbury's wineries are within an easy day's drive, some less than 30 minutes from central Christchurch.
If you want to enjoy a country setting close to town, book a seat at Rossendale Country Restaurant and Winery nestled under the Port Hills. There you can sample award-winning Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir with lunch or dinner. Rossendale's wines have won medals from many competitions, including the International Chardonnay Competition, the Air New Zealand Wine Awards and the Liquorland Top 100.
To go just a little further afield, make an appointment to visit the Kaituna Valley Vineyard on Banks Peninsula. This boutique winery has won several awards, including the Sydney International Wine Competition in 2006 with its Pinot Noir, and in 2007 with its Sauvignon Blanc.
For a rewarding day trip, steer your hire car towards Waipara in North Canterbury. There, you'll find many prestigious wineries, including Muddy Water Wines, Daniel Schuster Wines, Floating Mountain, Glenmark Wines, Waipara Hills, Sherwood Estate Wines, Fiddler's Green, Mount Cass and the Pegasus Bay Winery and Restaurant. And with excellent food available, you can enjoy a great meal as well as taste and buy fine wine.
Wines from this area have won many awards and trophies from both national and international competitions, including the New Zealand International Wine Show, the Romeo Bragato Wine Awards, the San Francisco International Wine Competition and the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Canterbury produces wine and produce to suit every palate, so its many wineries provide the perfect excuse to explore beautiful countryside, enjoy fine regional cuisine, and sample award-winning wine.