Learn what sets this region apart on a tasting tour of 3 boutique wineries, complete with a delectable gourmet lunch among the vines. Head north along the coast from Christchurch and enter the Waipara Valley, taking in the view as the untamed and wild landscape of the Southern Alps aligns itself into neat rows of grapevines that trace the valley floor.

Waipara Springs is the first stop for lunch, sit down to a gourmet meal full of vino-friendly antipasto dishes. Snack on fresh cheeses, seasonal fruits, olives, Akaroa salmon, cured meats and salami, and herb and garlic sausages. These delicious nibbles are accompanied by house-baked bread, crackers, and—naturally—perfectly paired wines.

You can drink your dessert at your next stop, lazing in the sun-soaked gardens of Torlesse as you're led through a tasting flight of citrus-scented pinot gris and sauvignon blanc.

The last stop of the day is at the tasting room of Pegasus Bay. Here you can sip your first pours of earthy reds and crisp whites as you learn how the valley's cool, dry, and sunny climate shapes the character of the wines.