North Canterbury

The North Canterbury wine region stretches nearly 200km of the South Island’s eastern coastline, bordered to the west by the Southern Alps and the east by the Pacific Ocean. As a result, the region benefits from a mix of coastal and alpine influences, with warm days and cool nights that help retain acidity and aromatic intensity in the grapes. Long sunshine hours, and diverse soils, create wines with elegance, purity, and depth.

Pinot Noir thrives here, defined by its bright red fruit, and earthy complexity, while Chardonnay is refined, with a mineral character, and is often compared to top Burgundy styles. Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer are different again, with their vibrant acidity and floral aromatics, especially in the Waipara Valley, where limestone and gravel soils enhance their elegance.

"The North Canterbury wine region is probably the country's most intriguing….you've got the heart and soul of a wine region, and producers doing really interesting stuff.” Steve Smith MW, co-owner of Pyramid Valley Vineyards

Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is North Canterbury’s flagship red, thriving in the Waipara Valley’s limestone and gravel soils. The wines are vibrant and perfumed, with flavours of red cherry, raspberry, and wild herbs, often developing earthy, savoury complexity.

Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc tends to be aromatic, with crisp, fresh acidity and less overtly tropical than Marlborough’s style.

Riesling
Riesling is one of North Canterbury’s standout white varieties, with styles ranging from bone-dry to lusciously sweet. Wines typically showcase lime, green apple, honeysuckle, and minerality.

Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris is rich and textured, with flavours of ripe pear, stonefruit, spice, and floral notes.

Chardonnay
Widely planted across the region, it is typically refined and complex, often drawing comparisons to top Burgundian styles. Flavours are white peach, citrus, and flinty minerality, balanced by bright acidity and well-integrated oak.

(Infographic by New Zealand Winegrowers)