North Canterbury Mini Expo 2019

We are delighted to welcome Dom Maxwell (Greystone and Muddy Water) and Nicolas Brown (Black Estate) to PWS as the headline of our Inaugural (and hopefully Annual) North Canterbury Saturday Tasting.

Located north of the Waimakariri River on the NZ South Island, Canterbury is home to some of the most prestigious small producers of NZ (Bell Hill, Pyramid Valley) and is experiencing a coming of age, the region taking out a host of awards; Dom Maxwell, of Greystone Wines, was named winner of the New Zealand Winemaker of the Year 2018, Terrace Edge Wines, took out the “Riedel Vineyard of the Year” award at the New Zealand Organic Wine Awards in early May and Black Estate, judged best winery restaurant in New Zealand at the annual Cuisine Good Food Awards in Auckland.

North of Christchurch on the east coast of the South Island, North Canterbury comprises four distinct sub-regions: Waipara (Glasnevin Gravels and Omihi), Waikari, Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury Plains 45-minutes north of Christchurch. These regions are home to some of the most exciting wine producers in New Zealand. Each sub-region is unique with distinct soils – from the clay and various limestones in Waikari and Omihi, to the Glasnevin Gravels of the Waipara Valley floor and the basalt spoil of Banks Peninsula.

The cool climate is varied across the sub-districts, the northern part of the region, Waipara and Waikari are protected from costal winds by the Teviotdale Hills. The Southern Alps act as a rain shadow ensuring low rainfall and plenty of sunshine in summer. The region enjoys long dry autumns and varied diurnal rhythms help provide phenolic ripeness and complexity in the wines.