Iconic and outstanding houses in Canterbury.
Canterbury's cool slopes pull sauvignon blanc and pinot noir into states of mineral clarity and red-fruit restraint that feel more Marlborough's southern cousin than South Island anomaly.
Save these houses, build your route through Canterbury, and navigate when you're there.
Region DNA
The character of Canterbury
Based on 103 wines with structural data
Style profile
Broad range with a recognisable character
FEM score distribution
Based on 24 rated wineries in this region
Flavor territory
Most frequent primary flavor groups
Style breakdown
Wine style frequency · Bar length = relative count
Top grape varieties
Varieties ranked by number of wines · Number = wine count
Most representative winery
The estate whose wines are closest to the regional average — the truest expression of Canterbury
Waipara Springs
VisitCanterbury wineries worth the stop
The 12 best critic-rated producers in Canterbury with a cellar-door address, ranked by their highest critic score. Check opening hours and book tastings ahead.
- 01Greystone
8 Vineyard Lane, North Canterbury, Waipara 7483
Critics' peak 95 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 02Bell Hill
P.O. Box 24, 7442, Waikari, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 03Mount Brown
103 Carters Road, 7410, Amberley, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 04Pegasus Bay
263 Stockgrove Rd, 7482, Waipara, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 05Muddy Water
376 Omihi Rd,, 7483, Waipara State Highway1, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 06The Boneline
376 Ram Paddock Road, Broomfield, Amberley 7482, New Zealand., Location: North Canterbury, Waipara Valley, New Zealand
Critics' peak 92 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Enthusiast
- 07Black Estate
614 Omihi Road, Amberley, New Zealand
Critics' peak 92 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 08Terrace Edge
328 Georges Road, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury, New Zealand., Postal Address: 328 Georges Rd RD 2, Waipara 7482, New Zealand., Tripadvisor, +2, Location Features:, New Zealand
Critics' peak 90 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Enthusiast
- 09Waipara Hills
780 Glasnevin Road (State Highway 1), Waipara, New Zealand
Critics' peak 89 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 10
- 11Sherwood
113 Church Road, PO Box 100, Waipara,, 7447, New Zealand, New Zealand
Critics' peak 89 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 12Main Divide
263 Stockgrove Rd,, 7482, Waipara, New Zealand
Critics' peak 88 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
Canterbury is a wine region in New Zealand, home to 54 producers tracked on Femente, 2 of them rated 90+ on the critic index. Its vineyards are led by Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay, producing New Zealand Pinot Noir and New Zealand Riesling wines with notes of Red fruit, Tree fruit, and Citrus fruit. It takes in Waipara.
Canterbury — good to know
- What grape varieties are grown in Canterbury?
- The most planted varieties in Canterbury are Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris, based on the wines Femente tracks across the region.
- What wines is Canterbury known for?
- Canterbury is known for New Zealand Pinot Noir, New Zealand Riesling, and New Zealand Chardonnay wines and flavors of Red fruit, Tree fruit, and Citrus fruit.
- How many wineries are in Canterbury?
- Femente tracks 54 producers in Canterbury, of which 2 are rated 90+ on the critic index.
- Where is Canterbury?
- Canterbury is a wine region in New Zealand, taking in Waipara.
Canterbury
Canterbury's cool slopes pull sauvignon blanc and pinot noir into states of mineral clarity and red-fruit restraint that feel more Marlborough's southern cousin than South Island anomaly.
Producers in Canterbury
- Braided River — undiscovered
- Cross Hares — undiscovered
- Tussock Hill Vineyard — honest
- Dallington Downs — undiscovered
- Waipara River Estate — undiscovered
- True & Daring — undiscovered
- Bell Hill — distinction
- Bellbird Spring — distinction
- The Crater Rim — distinction
- Koyama — distinction
- Straight 8 Estate — undiscovered
- Mount Brown — distinction
- Black Estate — distinction
- Waipara Springs — distinction
- Waipara West — distinction
- Torlesse — distinction
- Melton Estate — undiscovered
- Square Mile — honest
- Antills — undiscovered
- The Boneline — distinction
- Fancrest — undiscovered
- Saving Grace — undiscovered
- Terrace Edge — distinction
- The Springs — honest
- Greystone — critic
- Canterbury House — distinction
- Georges Road — honest
- Dancing Water — honest
- The Old Glenmark Vicarage — undiscovered
- Muddy Water — distinction
- Sherwood — distinction
- Waipara Downs — undiscovered
- Waipara Hills — distinction
- Pegasus Bay — distinction
- Camshorn — honest
- Waiata Vineyard — honest
- Hanmer Springs — undiscovered
- Hope — undiscovered
- Main Divide — distinction