Re Aurum Brodie…I have seen them offered through one of the online players but I cannot remember which one. Dhall & Nash were the distributor up your way so could be worth checking them out.
A majority of my favorites have already been mentioned (shout out to Felton Road where nearly 20 cellar workers/interns helped get our mini-RV unstuck from their “RV Parking”), but I would very much add Black Estate in North Canterbury.
Additionally, Pyramid Valley and Bell Hill up there are also quite good.
Heartily agree with your mention of Black Estate C_Wagner. Pyramid Valley changed ownership a couple of years ago, sadly since then Mike Weersing passed away, I don’t believe that they have a cellar door. Bell Hill wines certainly top notch, but it’s hard to get an appointment there.
As for top of the tree Kiwi wineries Brodie and I are in agreement on Ata Rangi…if you could only take one bottle home make it their Pinot Noir. I don’t get to see Bell Hill that often, but each time I do the wines are stunning so that would be up there too. In a broader NZ sense the Kumeu River Chardonnays are superb also.
Stylistic preferences come into the equation as Brodie suggests, but living close to Central Otago I do have a fondness for the Pinot Noir there and it’s a region from which I get to taste a broad range of wines consistently. On any given day I could choose a dozen wineries but if you had a six pack you could take home: the Ata Rangi already has one space, so you can only fit in five Central Pinots I’d go for anything from Felton Road, the Burn Cottage Burn Cottage Vineyard, Prophet’s Rock Home Block or the Cuvee aux Antipodes, a 50/50 call there, either the Valli Gibbston Vineyard or Bannockburn Vineyard and finally the Doctors Flat 2019.
Too many possibilities from other parts of the country. Marlborough & Hawke’s Bay both had a strong trio of vintages in 2019/20/21 so you are spoiled for choice there.
Dining out around the country you are just as likely to find other favourites.
Great thread and suggestions, I will be spending 3 weeks on the South Island, 1 1/2 on North Is in February and in the detailed planning currently. Brodie, you mentioned good restaurants in Arrowtown, we will be there a few nights, which restaurants do you suggest?
Any suggestions for finding a driver? Getting costs of $1000-$1500NZ for a driver for the day. So upwards of $650US. Seems a little excessive for a driver.
FWIW, I had no trouble driving myself around and doing various tastings, but I was VERY conservative with tasting. DUI laws are very strict, so I was very careful never to get carried away.
We lucked into hiring a driver — great guy, awesome conversation, super reasonable (I think $500NZD for the day). I say lucked out because he was our Uber driver one night into town for dinner and we took a liking to him. Sent him a message the next day “hey can we hire you as a driver for the day?” American ex-pat, has lived near Queenstown for years. A gourmet chef and hosts guests at The Boathouse. His name is Patrick…I’ll try and track down his contact info in the coming days…though you may be able to find him through Airbnb with the info I provided? He also drives a Tesla Model X….so that was a cool way to navigate the roads.
Thanks for the replies/help. If you track down Patrick’s info, would be great… $500-600 NZ sounds more reasonable. If not, think I’ll wait til we get there and try and find something similar with an Uber driver that might want to hire out for the day.
Unless I missed them above…Mount Edward are top-tier for sure…and Duncan Forsyth a legend, too. If you can connect with him it will be a visit you won’t soon forget!
Fu is there right now on an extended trip with his family. Looking forward to reading some wine posts. We’ve been getting some text pictures along the way, the place looks magnificent.