Luxury Life & Style

Delamore Lodge fers nearly 120 wineries but remains something of an artists’ enclave. Check in at the superb Delamore Lodge, whose panoramic views and in-house spa make it one of the North Island’s most luxurious accommodations. Plan to stop in at Sandbar, in the Oneroa district, where you can sample an array of Waiheke’s local wines by-the-glass and learn about food and wine pairing done the Kiwi way as part of their guest winemaker series at the restaurant. At the southernmost tip of the North Island lies the capital of Wellington, a charming city that is close in size to San Francisco with a food and wine vibe all its own. Wellington provides an easy jumping-off point to head east to Wairarapa, a wine-producing region that has grown exponentially in recent years and whose name is Maori for “Land of Glistening Waters.” About an hour-and-a-half east from the capital lies Martinborough, one of the most important towns in the Wairarapa, where one finds distinct pinot noirs that have more in common with their moody Burgundian counterparts than with sunny California bottlings. Check out the pinots from Ata Rangi, where owner Clive Patton first planted pinot noir in 1980, and those made by Larry McKenna at Escarpment Vineyards. Larry is widely considered to be the “dean of New Zealand pinot noir”, and his wines are remarkable. Wine explorations in the Wairarapa also bring you near to what may be the most fabulous place to stay in all of New Zealand, the Wharekauhau Country Estate. Located on a working 5000-acre sheep station with spectacular views of Palliser Bay, Wharekauhau offers a unique blend of nature and luxury. You can opt for a wide array of outdoor adventures or simply relax in your private cottage overlooking the ocean as the hotel brings the finest of New Zealand’s produce and wines to you via its award-winning restaurant. If pinot noir is your passion, you’ll also want to head down to the South Island, where the world’s most southerly winegrowing region, Central Otago, is emerging into the spotlight. The climate is extreme and the growing season short, so ripening pinot noir at all is sometimes a challenge, but for the growers doing it right, the results are spectacular. Start your journey in Queenstown, but consider renting a car to explore the main towns and vineyards of “Central” as the locals call it. The natural scenery alone in this part of New Zealand makes any wine pilgrimage worthwhile, and the view of Lake Wanaka from the Ripon Vineyard has often been cited as the most beautiful vineyard site in all the world. Some of my personal favorite wineries in the Central Otago district include Felton Road, Mt. Difficulty and Carrick; the riesling from the latter was a revelation when I tasted it November/December 2007 Luxury Life & Style 73

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