Introducing Waipara and North Canterbury

Updated 18 November 2013: after correspondence with local soil scientist Dr Philip Tonkin, Lincoln University, who is involved in a project that will gather information on vineyard soils in order to achieve a better understanding of the region's diverse terroirs, I have updated some of the information below on the region's soil types.

The beginning of this week is devoted to Julia's very detailed look at some of New Zealand's most exciting sources of fine Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay. See more on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Waipara and North Canterbury producers, about an hour's drive north of the city of...