Cuisine Wine

Bishops Head Wines

Setting
Turning into the driveway you will see the simple, no-frills corrugated iron building that houses the cellar door and winery. In winemaker Paul Hewett’s words, the cellar door isn’t “flash” or “superartistic”, it’s more cosy and rustic, with loads of rough-hewn timber and an old pot-belly stove inside.

Things to know
Hewett and fellow winemaker Peter Saunders have over 35 years of international experience between them and have been making wine in Waipara for many years, however the cellar door only opened in 2013. The name of the winery comes from a majestic limestone rockface found deep in the Waipara Gorge. Limestone is one geological feature that defines the Waipara Valley, and it’s definitely used to its advantage in Hewett and Saunders’ hands-off winemaking philosophy.

Our picks
If cherry and cranberryladen pinot noir is your thing then you’ll be rewarded, while the nashipear nuances in the dry pinot gris have many fans. But for something really different (and rare for the area) you must try the chenin blanc for its creamy apple characters.