Top value from North Canterbury, one of the great Pinot Noir regions of New Zealand thanks to its dry hot summers and long autumns, which allow the flavour development of ripe black cherry aromas and deep earthy notes, which make this incredibly affordable Pinot so inspiring. 

Crater Rim is a small and high quality winery in the Waipara Valley in the heart of North Canterbury and this is a lovely earthy expression of Pinot Noir from this wine region. 

Savoury layers of smoked mushrooms and bright red cherry flavours combine in this lively red. Drinks well now and can improve for the next two to three years. 

Crater Rim Riesling is medium sweet in style but so beautifully balanced by fresh  acidity that it tastes medium dry with great concentration of tropical fruit flavours and a succulent, long finish. It's made with grapes grown on Glasnevin Gravels, one of North Canterbury's golden miles of vineyards.

Winemaker Haydon Good worked for Clemens Busch in the Mosel, from which he says one of his take home pieces of information for making Riesling was to make picking decision on acidity then balance the wine with residual sugar, depending on the season and the acidity. That philosophy comes through bright, fresh and clear in this stunningly good value Riesling. 

VINEYARD - The fruit for this wine was selected from a small single vineyard on the Waipara Valley floor with soils consisting of Glasnevin gravels. 

SOIL TYPE - Glasnevin gravels

WINEMAKING - The fruit was harvested late and hand sorted in the winery.  Pressed off slowly, the juice was allowed to spontaneously start fermentation.  It was then fermented slowly in cool conditions in small stainless steel tanks.

TASTING NOTES - Gloriously rich and opulent, the bouquet shows dried apricot, Makuna honey, marmalade and rich floral characters. The palate displays outstanding concentration and depth, wonderfully enhanced by lavish sweetness and creamy mouthfeel, making it unctuous and irresistible.  Sam Kim – Wine Orbit

The Crater Rim Waipara Valley Chardonnay is a youthful, estate-grown wine, hand-picked and fermented and lees-aged for 11 months in French oak barriques (partly new). This wine is a bright, light yellow-green, with a fragrant, citrusy bouquet. The palate is mouth-filling, with good intensity of grapefruit-like flavours, slightly buttery and toasty.

VINEYARD - The fruit from this wine was sourced from a single Waipara Valley vineyard.  The fruit is left on the vine to ripen until the berries start to lose moisture and shrivel, concentrating the flavours and producing a rich style of Pinot Gris. 

SOIL TYPE - Alluvial gravels

WINEMAKING - The fruit was hand-picked and meticulously hand sorted. The juice was fermented warm by indigenous yeasts in aged French oak barriques.

TASTING NOTES - Wonderfully fruited and fragrant, the bouquet shows mango, golden peach, poached pear and rich floral aromas, leading to a splendidly flavoursome palate offering opulent fruit flavours with spicy nuances, finishing long and delicious. Gorgeously styled with rich tones of ripe fruit intensity backed by juicy acidity. Sam Kim - Wine Orbit.

Aromas and flavours of green apple and lemon peel, honey suckle and butterscotch. The palate is rich yet refreshing and the mouthfeel is delicate yet persistent.

Pristine and fabulously aromatic with feijoa, kiwifruit, green apple and lime zest aromas, it’s intensely flavoursome in the mouth displaying excellent fruit purity and persistency. Finely textured and lingering with loads of tasty flavours.

A full bodied, savoury Pinot Noir with appealing layers of red fruit flavours, which  drinks well now and can age superbly for the next four to five years. This is smooth, savoury and complex in flavour with layers of red fruit, tangy freshness from bold acidity that is held in balance by weight and texture. 

VINEYARD - The fruit was sourced from one of the oldest vineyards in the Waipara Region.  The vines are sustainably managed and maintained in order to deliver fruit with a great balance of concentration and acidity. 

SOIL TYPE - Clay over Alluvial gravels

WINEMAKING - After gently pressing this wine was fermented in seasoned French oak and aged on lees for 7 months.

TASTING NOTES - Wonderfully fruited and richly expressed, the bouquet shows golden peach, lychee, mango and rose petal aromas with a lovely spicy overtone. The palate delivers terrific fruit power and intensity combined with creamy mouthfeel and velvety texture, finishing long and sumptuous.  Sam Kim – Wine Orbit