Waipara Valley

Once known for its hot, dry summers and sheep ranches, the Waipara Valley is now an established vineyard area. The local Riesling, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc are particularly good. Sheltered from the cool easterly wind by the Teviotdale hills, the valley records hotter temperatures than the rest of Canterbury, and warm, dry autumns ensure a longer time for the grapes to mature. Winemakers are also exploiting the area's limestone soil to grow pinots—pinot noir, pinot gris, and pinotage. Two dozen labels have sprouted up, with more to come, and the area produces more than 200,000 cases of wine a year.