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The best wine tour in Christchurch - with wine tastings and lunch
Joined 2022
Indulge in a day of wine tasting in the Waipara wine area. About 75km north of Christchurch, it is renowned for its warm, dry climate and limestone-rich soils — ideal for growing the premium quality grapes that produce world class, multi award-winning wines and some of New Zealand’s most distinctive wine. The area is most famous for it’s Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris and delicious Chardonnay. You will enjoy tutored tastings at 4 of the area's 4 best wineries and lunch (at your own cost).
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
Your Hotel
Pick up from your accommodation
Pegasus Bay Winery
Discover sustainable viticulture used to bring out the complex flavours and fruit character of the wines, featuring world renowned Pinot Noirs, Rieslings and exceptional late harvest wines.
Greystone Wines:
The most awarded winery in North Canterbury, varieties include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, a stunning barrel fermented Sauvignon and an outstanding Chardonnay – you may also get the chance to taste the wines from the adjacent Muddy Water Winery. Lunch here costs NZ$89 for 4 courses and 5 wines, but we will have to allow more time (and likely drop 1 of the other wineries.)
Torlesse Winery:
Very much family owned and family run they produce 2 ranges of wines from 4 vineyard sites. They are justifiably famous for their excellent Gewurztraminer, Albarino and aged tawny port-style wine. This is the recommended lunch stop - NZ$25 per person for the winery platter represents fantastic value for money.
Terrace Edge Wines
NZ Organic Vineyard of the year 2018 and 2021 this family run vineyard captures it's dramatic landscape in liquid form in some of the finest wines NZ has to offer - a real treat. This is a truly boutique cellar door with award-winning wines, varieties include the rare St Laurent, a cool climate Syrah and the signature Liquid Geography Riesling. The degustation tasting is also highly recommended ($25pp).
Your Hotel
Drop off back in Christchurch - either back to your hotel/Airbnb or somewhere you prefer in central Christchurch.
Ending Point
At your hotel
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide Fee, Hotel Pick up and Drop Off, All transport to and around the Waipara Valley wine area.
Cost of the tastings
Cost of lunch
Tour Important Information
The tour includes all transport to and from central Christchurch and the "tutored" part of the tutored tasting. The vehicle used is a Kia Carnival Deluxe.
You will need to bring a credit card to pay for tastings (between NZ$10 and NZS30 per person but often reimbursed or waived if you buy wine) and lunch.
There are a number of options for lunch - you can eat at any of these venues - but lunch at Torlesse is recommended (NZ$28) but please advise us of any special dietary requirements in advance. I do not recommend trying to do this tour without lunch.
Please dress for comfort, wear sensible shoes and don’t forget to have breakfast.
Important message from the supplier
Wine tour dates are dependent on the availability of the wineries.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2022
About Tour Guide Giles W.
Hi, I am Giles. I am English and I have spent most of my working life in the wine trade. When I was in the UK, I worked for a large London based wine merchant and when I came to Christchurch in 2004, I took up a sales role with NZ's largest wine maker Constellation Brands. So after a lifetime in the wine trade I am delighted to be taking small groups of people on guided tours of the Waipara Valley and have been running The Waipara Wine Experience since 2016.
$246/ per group