Canterbury is one of the oldest grapegrowing regions of the South Island.

French immigrants planted the first vines in 1840 in Akaroa, but as was often the case in those early days of settlement, viticulture was abandoned and not revived until 1978, when a vineyard was established in the Belfast district of Christchurch.

Officially the region stretches from Waipara in the north to just outside of Timaru in the south, a distance of over 200 kilometres. The wineries are grouped into two distinct sub­regions in this large geographic area. ¬Waipara, a cluster of wineries in the north which deserve to be classified as a separate region, and

¬Christchurch, where there is a second cluster of wineries in the plains surrounding the city.

The expansive Canterbury Plains consist largely of alluvial loams over gravel sub­soils of moderate to low fertility. The long, dry summers provide abundant sunshine, but the region has relatively cooler growing conditions than Marlborough. The dry autumn weather reduces the risk of diseases caused by humidity, and this, combined with cool nights, allows the grapes to ripen slowly to maintain excellent balance.

The conditions are particularly well suited to Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. In 1982 the St Helena winery caused a sensation when it won a gold medal for its Pinot Noir. Many of Canterbury‘s vinous treasures are a well­kept secret and are available only at the winery. Most have superb visitor facilities featuring cafes, restaurants offering Canterbury lamb, seafood and game, with many other culinary delights to tempt the palate.

This region is easy to navigate, as most of the wineries are within half an hour from the city centre and are close to each other. The wine trail is justly famous for its southern hospitality.

The Garden City is famous for its wellestablished parks and public gardens. It is a cosmopolitan city with a lively arts and entertainment scene, and it hosts a dozen festivals a year. The city is easy to explore on foot or by bicycle, and there are plenty of attractions to see. Within one hour of the city are towering mountains, alpine passes and skifields.