Canterbury wine region explained

Canterbury
Year:1970s; GI established 2018[1]
Country:New Zealand
Vineyards:108
Wineries:71
Comments:Data from 2022.[2] [3]

The Canterbury wine region is a New Zealand wine region and geographical indication that covers wine made anywhere within the Canterbury Region excluding the Kaikōura District, an area of some in the South Island.[1]

Regions

Almost all the region's vineyards are concentrated in a relatively small area north of the city of Christchurch, which has prompted the establishment of two smaller sub-region geographical indications within it. The North Canterbury GI is simply the top half of the larger Canterbury GI north of the Rakaia River, and within that lies the Waipara Valley GI, a small area about north of Christchurch which accounts for the majority of Canterbury's total vineyard plantings.

Waipara Valley

Waipara Valley is a small geographical indication about north of Christchurch, and was established as the first sub-region of the larger Canterbury GI. The valley floor provides a warm micro-climate ideal for viticulture. To the west, the Southern Alps temper the prevailing westerly winds and provide a rain shadow, and to the east, low coastal limestone ridges moderate the cool ocean winds. In the 1970s, the first vineyard to be planted was Pegasus Bay, which established a reputation for its Riesling wine. The region makes up the bulk of Canterbury's plantings, which by 2017 was a total vineyard area of, well known for its Pinot Noir, of which is planted.[4] Liam Steevenson MW has described Waipara as possibly the "most exciting place to grow Pinot Noir".[5] Good examples of the region's Pinot Noir include those from Black Estate,[6] Bellbird Spring, Fancrest Estate, Muddy Water, Greystone, Waipara Springs, Pegasus Bay and Crater Rim.[7] Greystone Wines won the Decanter International Trophy for Pinot Noir in 2014 and the Air New Zealand Trophy for Pinot Noir. Black Estate was awarded the Trophy for Best Pinot Noir at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2010.[8] White wines of the region include varietal wines, most commonly of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay.

North Canterbury

In 2018, the Wines of Canterbury and Waipara Valley Wine Growers associations merged to form the North Canterbury Wine Region, which was separately registered as a second Canterbury sub-region GI, in June 2020.[9] [10] The Waipara GI is within the area of the North Canterbury GI boundary, and the merged industry body promotes the use of "North Canterbury" for its region, although both "North Canterbury" and "Waipara" still appear on wine labels.[11]

Only of vineyards are planted outside the Waipara Valley GI boundary, concentrated in a few small areas such as West Melton, Banks Peninsula, Cheviot, and Rolleston. These satellite producers include French Peak (formerly French Farm), Melton Estate, and Lone Goat, which took over Riesling vineyards from Giesen Estate and own New Zealand's only Ehrenfelser vineyard. In order of descending planting area, varieties grown in Canterbury outside Waipara Valley include Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay.

Further inland from Waipara, the limestone soils around Waikari are producing well-reviewed wine from Bell Hill and Pyramid Valley, using organic and/or biodynamic production methods, and close-planted vineyards.[12] Wine is also being grown and made further north in Cheviot by Mt Beautiful.

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Geographical Indications Register: Canterbury . Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand . 2018 . 12 March 2023 . 19 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200119205608/https://www.iponz.govt.nz/about-ip/geographical-indications/register/canterbury/ . live .
  2. Web site: New Zealand Winegrowers Vineyard Report 2022 . . 2022 . 13 May 2021 . 22 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422032430/https://www.nzwine.com/en/media/statistics/vineyard-reports/ . live .
  3. Web site: New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Report 2022 . . 2022 . 12 March 2023 . 31 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230131213755/https://www.nzwine.com/media/22749/nzw-annual-report-2022.pdf . live .
  4. Web site: New Zealand Wine: Statistics & Reports . . 12 March 2023 . 2 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190502173117/https://www.nzwine.com/en/news-media/statistics-reports/ . live .
  5. Web site: Diversity of New Zealand Pinot Noir. Natalie. Wang. thedrinksbusiness.com. 7 February 2017. 21 February 2018. Further south is Canterbury/Waipara, a region that "could potentially be the most exciting place to grow Pinot Noir", Steevenson stressed.. 21 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180221095953/https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/02/diversity-of-new-zealand-pinot-noir/. live.
  6. Web site: Black Estate Wine, North Canterbury. 1 April 2021. 11 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210411064900/https://blackestate.co.nz/. live.
  7. Web site: Waipara Valley Wineries. Waipara Valley North Canterbury Winegrowers. 4 November 2017. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003541/http://www.waiparavalleynz.com/wineries/. live.
  8. Web site: Pinot Noir 2007. Black Estate. 21 February 2018. 21 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180221035540/http://blackestate.co.nz/wines/pinot-noir/2007. live.
  9. Web site: Wine rebranded: Canterbury wineries united under one regional name. Fletcher. Jack. The Press. Fairfax Media. 28 October 2018. 30 October 2018. 29 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191538/https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/108131063/wine-rebranded-canterbury-wineries-united-under-one-regional-name. live.
  10. Web site: Geographical Indications Register: North Canterbury . Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand . 2020 . 12 March 2023 . 29 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210129032401/https://www.iponz.govt.nz/about-ip/geographical-indications/register/north-canterbury/ . live .
  11. Web site: Waipara changes its name . Bob . Campbell . The Real Review . 12 June 2017 . 19 April 2021 . 5 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210805122113/https://www.therealreview.com/2017/06/12/waipara-changes-its-name/ . live .
  12. Web site: Our Story - Bell Hill Vineyard. Admin. bellhill.co.nz. 21 February 2018. Bell Hill uses the Burgundian model of vineyard architecture with a high plant density of 9,259 to 12,500 vines/ha […] We have been farming organically and bio dynamically since the 2007/2008 growing season. 27 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180127011033/http://bellhill.co.nz/our-story. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Canterbury wine region".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.