Setting
Akarua’s vineyards climb up the Cairnmuir hills behind the winery established by businessman and former Dunedin mayor Sir Clifford Skeggs in 1996. In a wing of the winerythe small but comfortable tasting room opens on to a sunny courtyard.

Things to know
Akarua hasdeveloped a reputation for pinot noir and, more recently, with Cliff’s son David Skeggs as CEO and winemaker Matt Connell, for sparkling wine made in conjunction with Australian guru Dr Tony Jordan. There are three methode traditionnelle wines– a dry rosé, a yeasty brut and an elegant vintage. Table wines include pinot gris, rosé,chardonnay, riesling, three pinot noirs – the early-drinking Rua, a savoury Akarua and the super-premium Siren – and, the lush ice wine, Alchemy Ice.

Our picks
For sheer hedonism you may not want to go past the delicious rosé brut, but do try the chardonnay, the other sparklings, and the pinot noir.