New Zealand's tasty fruit garden: the Food and Wine Trail in Wanaka

By Sebastian Kretz Feb 7, 2012, 3:06 GMT

Wanaka, New Zealand - The trip from the Pacific coast to the little town of Wanaka in the heart of New Zealand's southern island is mouth-watering in itself. The route takes the visitor past numerous fruit orchards and the juicy, ripe cherries, apple and apricots beckon from booths along the way either as ready-to-bite finger-food or as fresh ice-cream.

Highway Number Six carries on until Wanaka, a charming and relaxed town of 5,000 residents alongside the lake of the same name. In recent years this region has been transformed into a remarkable wine-growing area.

The most attractive vineyard is on Lake Wanaka and goes by the name of Rippon. It occupies a prime position on the northern slopes - the sunny side of things in the Southern Hemisphere. Right beneath the vines is the lake and since this stretch of water is ringed by steep mountains the rain can be relied upon to fall directly from the clouds onto the Rippon grapes.

'We want to craft a wine which sets itself apart from others,' said vintner Nick Mills. He describes his premium white wines as being rich in detail, precise in taste and clear-bodied. They owe these qualities to the schist rock gravels in the ground, he tells visitors.

Those who do not want to rely on wine jargon alone can choose a bottle for themselves after a tasting in the visitor centre. The Gewurztraminer is renowned for its 'remarkable grace and clarity' and no-one should go away without grabbing at least a bottle of Riesling.

There are at least two ways to release the contents. The most comfortable alternative is a walk through the vines to the lake edge, which is rimmed by a narrow perimeter path. To sit there and uncork a bottle of wine while admiring the fine view of wooded Ruby Island and the jagged rock faces beyond is a fine way of passing the time.

More impressive but requiring more effort is a hike to Roys Peak a few kilometers north-west of Wanaka, although this means the wine bottle will have to be popped in a rucksack beforehand. The path seems unattractive at first as it wends its twisty way for two-and-a-half hours past flanks of bare, grey-brown rock. Once the ridge has been reached, the panoramic view revealed from aloft more than compensates for the ascent .

Over to the north-west lies a carpet of hills, peninsulas and lakes shimmering in deep and light blue. The view stretches to the white flanks of the Southern Alps with an arc of wide blue sky above and smudges of fluffy, white clouds. The view accompanies hikers for another hour as they make their way from the ridge to the summit. It is noticeably colder here. The descent is less strenuous but lasts long enough for participants to start thinking about what evening meal they can expect.

Fortunately, New Zealanders have come up with a delicious alternative to fleshy or fatty dishes in the shape of snack bars known as Tea Rooms. Even tiny Wanaka can boast a handful of these establishments, all of which are worth visiting.