Canterbury, according to New Zealand satirist AK Grant, is "coming to be symbolised not just by its [rugby team's] colours, which are red and black, but by its wines, which are red and white."

Cantabrians are quite parochial about their wines, which flow from the north of the province, at Waipara, and vineyards scattered across the Canterbury Plains.

Waipara

There's a difference in climate between the two major districts of the Canterbury wine region. The locals at Waipara often say: "there's a jersey in it", meaning that if you're heading south from Waipara to the city of Christchurch, you'll need to take a jersey.

Waipara lies within an easy drive of the Kaikoura Coast, famous for whale watching, the alpine thermal resort of Hanmer Springs, and Christchurch, the South Island's largest city.

Now the largest Canterbury wine district, Waipara looks and feels like classic wine country, with its limestone hills and stony river terraces draped in vines. It's no wonder they make some excellent wines here.

The Teviotdale hills, which roll along the coast to the east, keep Waipara's vineyards warm and sheltered. The first significant plantings were in the early 1980s, with a surge in the ‘90s.

The grapes

The big success stories here are pinot noir and riesling, and there is a decent amount of good chardonnay produced here too.

The riesling has an intensity of fragrance and vivacity which eludes regions further north. The top pinot noirs tend to rank among the very best in the country.

There's an especially good sauvignon blanc made by Canterbury House, a handsome winery and restaurant owned by Californian Dr Michael Reid.

In my view Pegasus Bay is the top producer in the whole of Canterbury. The Donaldson family makes consistently outstanding pinot noirs, chardonnays, rieslings and sauvignon blanc/semillon blends. Don't miss it, for the breathtaking quality of the wines and the very stylish restaurant.

The plains

Canterbury Plains, South Island
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You should drive out along the hilly, volcanic Banks Peninsula to French Farm vineyard, with its bustling café that serves thousands of visitors drawn to the old French settlement of Akaroa. Here you can enjoy the estate-grown wines while looking out over beautiful Akaroa Harbour.

Festivals

Both wine districts have their annual festivals. Most of the province's wineries are showcased at the Canterbury Wine and Food Festival, held in Christchurch in February, while each March Waipara's Wine and Food Celebration is staged in the grounds of the historic Glenmark Church.