Setting
Located near the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, this is a beautiful, quiet part of the country, and it’s only 3.5km from Kaitaia as you head towards Ahipara and Shipwreck Bay. The place is well signposted and it’s on your left as you head south. Inside, the cellar door has a cosy and retro vibe – you can taste a selection of the flavoursome wines, Plus buy locally produced condiments and estate-grown olive oil.

Things to know
This Far North vineyard was planted by the inimitable Monty Knight in 1984, well before the start of the Northland wine boom. Back in 1996, the Kaz Shiraz won a trophy at the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards. There are two labels: the everyday Shipwreck Bay and the premium brand Okahu.

Our picks
Flora is light, juicy and very easy on the palate. The Okahu syrah delivers plenty of fruity richness and power – ideal for pairing with gutsy, meaty dishes. Monty is also very excited about the soon-to-be-released 2013 Kaz Shiraz, an outstanding wine and the first release since the 2000 vintage.

Plus
It’s worth driving to Ahipara, just a few kilometres away. There are plenty of adventure activities on offer, from windsurfing to quad biking, and locals say it’s the best place in the area to watch the sunset.