Cellar Doors & Breweries in Selwyn

Tuesday, 4 April 2023

Cellar Doors & Breweries in Selwyn

Sample a drop of Selwyn at our vineyards and breweries. The Selwyn region is known for expressive chardonnays and aromatic wines. Grapes flourish on the established and newer vineyards, from Tai Tapu to Burnham. Have a chat to the friendly vintners at the cellar door or visit The Laboratory to try their new craft beers and tour the brewery.

Rossendale

Rossendale Wines and 'The Vineyard at Rossendale' are located at 100 Old Tai Tapu Road, Halswell, Christchurch. The boutique cellar door offers tastings of their award winning Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Rosé and Pinot Noir.

'The Vineyard at Rossendale' caters for private functions and events, with a purpose-built venue and two-and-a-half acres of land showcasing its garden and vineyards.

The cellar door is open Monday to Friday, and the weekend by appointment.  Contact the cellar door on 03-322 7780 or wine@rossendale.co.nz


The Laboratory

The Laboratory Restaurant and Brewery in Lincoln is keeping it local and fresh. The name, The Laboratory, reflects their philosophy of experimenting with new

 flavours.

When he arrived in Canterbury from England, owner Martin Bennett wanted to share his love of cask-conditioned ales with New Zealanders.

His first brewing venture was the Twisted Hop in Christchurch. After the earthquakes, the time was ripe to establish a bar and 600-litre brewery in Selwyn.

The craft beers are made using local ingredients where possible and are served onsite, using minimal transport and packaging. The brewing process uses Selwyn water from the bore hole right outside and Gladfield Malt from nearby Dunsandel.

Have a drink at the bar or take a brewery tour and find out what makes these beers special. Brewery tours include a tasting of five beers and a souvenir glass.

The Laboratory is open Tuesday through Sunday. To book a table or a tour, phone 03 325 3006, or email goodtimes@thelaboratory.co.nz

 

Straight 8

Try the award-winning wines at Straight 8 in Burnham. From vines planted in the mid 1980s to 1992, Straight 8 produces Rosé, Rieslings, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. James Shand and Mary Jamieson purchased the lot in 2004 and set up the winery with the philosophy, ‘We bottle what we grow’.

The brand name, ‘Straight 8 Estate’ is inspired by a 1935 Light Sports Railton which has been in the family for 50 years. The classic racing car even has its own garage inside the cellar.

The Straight 8 cellar door is open 7 days a week from 9am until 6:30pm. Customers are welcomed into a relaxed environment with free tastings and the owners are happy to answer any questions.

 

Cross Hares

Cross Hares produces single-vineyard wines from hand-picked grapes. The name was inspired by the hares with attitude, that run freely between the vines. The hillside block in Tai Tapu overlooking the once rich wetland of Ahuriri Lagoon.

Vintners Natalie and Warrick Edwards purchased the block in 2014. The vines were established in 2002 but had been neglected, so the Edwards family enlisted the help of Lincoln University lecturer and local vineyard owner Glen Creasy. As they gained in knowledge, they began to move toward organic practices including Biogro certified organic registration.

Cross Hares is a memberof Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand for their commitment to the natural environment and sustainable business practices.

Two of their wines, the 2017 Pinot Noir ‘Greenman’ and their 2016 Pinot Gris ‘Ahuriri Run’, have won bronze medals in the NZ Wine Awards.

The Cross Hares cellar door is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am–6pm (unless its harvesting season on Saturday). Call 027 724 3015, check their Facebook page or email sales@crosshares.nz if you'd like a tasting or a tour.

 

Melton Estate

Taste award-winning wines at Melton Estate.

Take a seat at the Winery Restaurant, overlooking the rows of Pinot Noir vines, and sample the paired boutique wine and food suggestions.

Want to make your next wedding, private event or conference extra special. Why not host it at Melton Estate?

Sample local wines including Summer Love Sparkling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Rosé, and a Méthode Traditionelle.

The winery cellar door is open Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Melton Estate tastings and tours outside of these hours can be arranged by calling 03 347 4968 or emailing info@meltonestate.co.nz.

 

The best wine in Selwyn

Are we missing your favourite winery? Have you made the most of the amazing Selwyn summer weather to take in a winery tour? If you're out and about sampling Selwyn's best wines, make sure you let us know. Tag us on Facebook or Instagram, so we can find the best locally made drops.

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