The South Island Wine and Food Festival brought together more than 40 of the South Island’s best wineries, recognising the area's position as one of the premier wine producing regions in the world. From Marlborough in the north, right down to the southernmost vineyards on earth, the South Island has an abundance of talented and dedicated wine makers. The wineries were joined by a delicious selection of restaurants from across Christchurch and Canterbury, as well as a huge selection of gourmet food vendors– all plating their tastiest culinary dishes throughout the day, made with the freshest ingredients sourced from the best local producers.

The Wine Seminar Lounge was the perfect place to learn something new Experts such as Bob Campbell MW, Stephen Wong MW and New Zealand’s only Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas guided visitors  through tastings, and chatted about a range of varietals. 

Akaroa Winery
Overlooking Takamatua Bay, the organic, family-owned vineyard is located on the North facing slopes of Banks Peninsula. Akaroa Winery produce the highest quality grapes using sustainable farming techniques. They are focused on creating extraordinary age-worthy wines that express the unique characteristics of the fruit from Takamatua Valley. The rugged terroir of the vineyard produces wines with great intensity and finesse.

Akarua
Located in Central Otago, the world’s southernmost winemaking region, Akarua was established in 1996. In recent years Akarua has expanded with the purchase of a further 50 hectares in Felton Road and Lowburn, and the ’25 Steps’ and ‘Kawarau Estate’ vineyard on the Luggate/Cromwell Road, increasing Akarua’s total land holdings to 135
hectares. Akarua is a family owned winery that is focused on producing world-class Pinot Noir and Sparkling wines. The continued accolades and attention are a testament to the stunning quality of their wines.

Allan Scott Family Winemakers
Quality and absolute dedication to achieving the best is key to Allan Scott Family Winemakers. The Marlborough-based team proudly present a selection of Marlborough and Central Otago wines including the popular Methodé Traditionnelle and Scott Base Vineyard wines by the barrel. Don’t miss their craft-beer inspired range of varietals including a hopped Sauvignon Blanc!

Ara Wines
One Place. Pure Marlborough. Sitting on the edge of the world, Marlborough’s extreme climate can present challenges. However, the winemaking and viticulture teams at Ara embrace challenge – and use it to create intensely flavoured wines that reflect the purity from the place they come from.

Ataahua Wine

The beautiful Waipara Valley in North Canterbury is home to Ataahua Wines. Resting amongst traditional pastoral farms and the Waipara Domain, the vineyard enjoys the ideal grape growing conditions of this warm dry valley. The Maori translation of Ataahua is beautiful, picturesque, a place of beauty – so appropriate to the valley, the vineyard and the wines alike. Hand tended vines and delicately handcrafted wines

have produced a range of unique and delicious wines produced in small quantities.

Black Estate
Black Estate is family owned and comprises of three organic hillside vineyards in North Canterbury. The vineyards lie within a 10 km stretch of mainly clay limestone soils. The winemaking is simple - good estate grown fruit, organic and biodynamic, handpicked, vineyard driven yeasts, no additives or fining and minimum sulphur at bottling. Black Estate’s careful attention to process creates wine with definitive character.

Black Ridge Vineyard
Pioneers, risk takers, brave, fighters. These are words that have been used to describe the founders of Black Ridge, one of the southernmost vineyards and wineries in the world. Wines with a sense of place are hand crafted from their steep schist vineyards.
Black Ridge Vineyard specialises in aromatics and Pinot Noir.

The Boneline
Old vines growing through multi-terraced river gravels - winding through an ancient landscape of creatures and peoples. Hand-grown handmade wines from folk in love with this spectacular powerful terrain and terroir. The Boneline, a North Canterbury treasure, features highlights from their range including Cabernet Franc, Sharkstone Chardonnay,
Barebone Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

CharRees Vineyard
CharRees Vineyard is a family owned vineyard just south of Ashburton on State Highway 1.
The Canterbury winery produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and a bubbly wine ‘Sparkling Pearl’ - a Riesling and Pinot Gris fusion. Charlie and the team invite you to come and taste their rich mid-Canterbury wines which are produced from selectively hand harvested
grapes for optimum flavour.

THE CRATER RIM
The Crater Rim is a family owned boutique winery with its own vineyards situated in both Omihi Hills and Waipara. The wines produced are from grapes from carefully selected vineyards, renowned for their particular mix of grape variety, topography, soil and microclimate – creating high quality, site-specific wines of character and drinkability.

Domain Road Vineyard
At home in Bannockburn, Central Otago, Domain Road is a family owned winery with two vineyards on Domain Road and nearby Felton Road. Hot Summers, dry Autumns and a traditional hands on approach have come together to produce many award-winning estate grown wines.


Forrest Wines
Everything that is good about Marlborough is encapsulated in Forrest Wines. Fresh, flavourful and pristine with a strong sense of place, these wines express the best both grape variety and region has to offer. Also featuring wines by The Doctors, this range is about innovation and excellence. New grape varieties, alternative winemaking techniques and select parcels of fruit unite to create very special wines under this unique label.

Georges Road Wines
Georges Road Wines produce a range of delicious, handcrafted, single-vineyard wines from the heart of the Waipara Valley. Georges Road Wines are excited to showcase their award-winning Syrah, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Rosé.

Giesen Wines
From their first vintage in 1984 the three Giesen brothers created great wines. The world fell for Giesen Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and now there’s a Giesen wine for every occasion. The brothers appreciate family and friends, sharing meals and enjoying a wine. They invite you to do the same.

Greystone Wines
Greystone grows grapes and makes wine from the limestone and clay hills of the Waipara Valley. Meticulous vineyard management, hands off wine making and natural fermentation with wild vineyard yeasts help express the site and produce wines of exceptional quality, flavour and style.

Judge Rock
Elegant. Sensuous. Intimate. Alexandra-based Judge Rock’s boutique family vineyard is open all summer for tasting and sales. Taste their gold medal and trophy winning Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rosé and pioneering St Laurent.

Kalex Wines
Situated in the stunning Gibbston area of Central Otago, Kalex Wines focus on producing exceptional wines, expressive of the area in which they are grown. Their wine is grown both on their estate and also with their partners who seek to produce exceptional fruit for their aromatics.

Lawson’s Dry Hills
Celebrating their 25th vintage in 2017, the small, hands-on team at Lawson’s Dry Hills are a humble bunch, quietly proud of the trophies and medals that reflect their efforts. The expressive wines are an authentic representation of both the grape variety and the
land from which they are grown.

Lone Goat Vineyard
Lone Goat’s name is inspired by the vineyard’s sole inhabitant and guardian of the vines, Zoe the goat. This mischievous madam is well known for her sassy attitude and excellent taste. Lone Goat is Canterbury’s quirky boutique winery from Burnham, South
of Christchurch which has been producing outstanding Canterbury wines for nearly 30 years!

Main Divide Wines
Main Divide is the local name for the Southern Alps that form the backbone of the South Island. Wines for Main Divide are sourced from selected growers around North Canterbury chosen for their ability to express unique regional and varietal characters.
The wines are made by the Donaldson family at their Waipara Valley winery.

Maori Point Wines
Innovative and distinctive wines, grown and made with care at their small riverside vineyard/winery in Central Otago. Featuring unique characters like the Gold Digger sparkling Pinot Gris in a beer bottle - she’s both lovely and dangerous!

Maori Point Wines are excited to present their award-winning Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Rosé.

McArthur Ridge
McArthur Ridge is situated in the Alexandra Basin, the southernmost wine region in NZ. It is dedicated to the production of award-winning Pinot Noir. McArthur Ridge is joined at the Festival by Caythorpe Family Estate. This stunning winery is situated on the Wairau Plains in Marlborough and produces fine Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling
and Chardonnay – winners of numerous awards and medals.

Melton Estate
Melton Estate is family owned boutique winery located near Christchurch in West Melton. There are 8 great wines to discover including the acclaimed Sparkling Riesling ‘Summer Love.’ The latest exciting release by this Christchurch institution; ‘Meltonia.’ This illustrious new-release Methodé Traditionnelle was available for the first time at the South Island Wine & Food Festival.

Dunstan Road Wines
Dunstan Road is a boutique 2-hectare vineyard and winery situated in the Alexandra Basin, Central Otago. The vines and wines are hand crafted with minimal machine or chemical input to ensure there is a personal touch to each bottle of wine.

Mischief with Wine
Mischief with Wine says "there is too much pretentiousness in wine". Mischief with Wine gets back to the fun, the journey, the joy of making and drinking great wine. So what if a little mischief happens along the way.

Mount Michael Wines
Mount Michael Wines are crafted from hand-tended vines in Lowburn, Bendigo and Gibbston, Central Otago. Each of these sub regions present perfect growing conditions for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes with temperature extremes and mineral rich soils.
Producing just under 2500 cases per annum of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Rose,
Mount Michael is boutique by any standard! The artisan nature of the wines pay homage to the land they make their journey from.

Mt. Beautiful Wines
Mt Beautiful’s Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir are elegant, made in an artisan, old-world style, and uniquely hand blended while exhibiting balance with lovely acidity to allow for superb aging potential. Mt Beautiful wines are truly elegant, representative of their home region in North Canterbury.

Pegasus Bay Winery
Pegasus Bay is owned and operated by the Donaldson family who were pioneers of the local wine industry. Often referred to as the leading producer of fine wine in the region,
Pegasus Bay produces complex and full flavoured wines with character from their
home vineyard which is now more than 30 years old.

Peregrine Wines
Since 1998, Peregrine has been an artisan wine producer, bringing hand-crafted care to their range of wines. Now one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded producers, they focus on Pinot Noir and also offer an array of aromatic white wines including Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé and Methodé Traditionnelle.


Prophet’s Rock
Prophet’s Rock produce vineyard-focussed wines from their two spectacular sites in Central Otago. Winemaker Paul Pujol’s extensive experience in the old world informs
their approach. “Fine, textural wines that are among the best in the region.” - Jamie Goode, Wine Writer.

Rapaura Springs Wines
Rapaura Springs wines are borne of a lifetime of hard graft and inspired by the purity of our Rapaura Springs. The wines are made with integrity and are a true expression of the beautiful Marlborough region. Real, authentic wines made with care and passion.

Red Leaf Winery
Red Leaf Winery is a boutique Canterbury winery focussed on delivering a range of top quality wines. Scott and Celine are regular faces at a number of local farmers’ markets, and work tirelessly hand-crafting exceptional wines that regularly rate among the best in New Zealand. Their 2011 Pinot Noir is one of the highest valued wines on the NZ market and has recently received sensational reviews from the likes of Yvonne Lorkin.

Silver Wing Wines
Silver Wing Wines are dedicated to using natural, traditional wine production methods, producing top wines from premium Waipara valley fruit. Silver Wing, a new handcrafted boutique producer, draws on hand-picked grapes, wild ferments, battonage, plenty of skin contact and inspiration from the Canterbury coastline. Silver Wing Wines
are thrilled to present the Nada range – naturally preservative-free.

Spy Valley Wines
Spy Valley Wines is a family owned winery in Marlborough and named for its proximity to an international satellite communications monitoring station (GSCB) in the
Waihopai Valley...a spy base. Not befitting the world of espionage, Spy Valley’s wine has demanded global attention, the wine has been called “impossible to ignore” and the company among “the planet’s 20 most notable new producers.” Spy Valley is a  must-visit winery with a reputation for producing outstanding Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot
Noir and aromatic varietals.

Straight 8 Estate
Straight 8 Estate delivered the taste of Canterbury for their 7th consecutive year as they prepare to showcase single-vineyard wines proudly grown and made here in Canterbury. James and Mary are familiar faces who are always eager to invite you along to their cellar door to sample their outstanding range.

Sugar Loaf Wines
Sugar Loaf Wines is a small family owned winery in the heart of Marlborough’s classic grape growing region; Rapaura. Producing estate grown, award-winning Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and for the first time at this year’s South Island Wine & Food Festival, showcasing their estate grown late harvest Riesling.

Terrace Edge
Situated on the south bank of the Waipara Valley in North Canterbury, Terrace Edge is an exceptional place for growing grapes. From natural, organic growing methods to gentle, traditional wine making techniques, Terrace Edge wines are flavoursome and complex wines. Be sure to check out their Albarino and Syrah.

Tiki Wine
Tiki is a family-owned business owned by Royce and Sue McKean. The Tiki brand pays homage to Royce’s great-great grandfather, Tikitere Mihi, who was a Ngatiuenuku chief. The esteemed Tiki is also a powerful good luck charm for the Maori people of New Zealand. Tiki is committed to sustainable winegrowing and to working with the environment without compromising quality. They care for their vines under the guiding Maori principles of Kaitiakitanga: guardianship, protection and preservation of the earth.

Tohu Wines
The Tohu winemaking philosophy is to create wines that capture the flavour  of each region’s unique landscapes, whilst upholding respect and protection of the land for future generations. Tohu vineyards are certified sustainable by Winegrowing New Zealand. They see this as an integral part of their values, working with the environment without compromising quality and integrity.

Toi Toi Wines
Toi Toi strives to create quality, distinctive New Zealand wines to share and enjoy with family and friends. From family owned vineyards and selected growers, premium varietals are produced from the regions in which they are most
renowned.

TOSQ
TOSQ are tucked into a corner of the Pisa District, Central Otago, close to the Wanaka/Cromwell Highway. They lie on river and glacial terraces, sheltered to some extent from the worst of the cold south winds by ‘Sugarloaf’, a local landmark feature which marks the physical end of a previous glacial advance.
No longer developing a vineyard – TOSQ are working to nurture the land as a whole into a self-sustaining organism, with the added benefit of producing some of the region’s most sought-after varietals.

Two Rivers of Marlborough
Two Rivers of Marlborough takes its name from the iconic rivers that feed
Marlborough’s Wairau and Awatere Valleys. Winemaker, David Clouston aims to capture and emphasise Marlborough’s intense power while producing complex,
elegant wines with a slight European flair.

Valli Vineyards
“When you drink a Valli wine, you are enjoying more than just a wine. You are experiencing a place,” describes owner Grant Taylor. Valli Vineyards produce sensational ranges of premium Pinot Noir and Riesling which highlight the diverse sub-regions of Otago.

 Villa Maria Estates
Villa Maria proudly boasts its status as New Zealand’s most awarded winery and was named 4th Most Admired Wine Brand in the World in 2015.

Still family owned, Villa Maria is known for innovation and emphasis on sustainable practices.

The Winemaker’s Wife
The Winemaker’s Wife wines are the creation of winemaker Simon McGeorge and his wife Olive. Their wines epitomise good times with family and friends; bright, flavour rich and full of character.