Something special to drink

Chantelle Wheaton was a banker with a secret passion. Forget dollars and cents, her heart lay in liquid alchemy. Chantelle had been a hobby winemaker for 30 years before the opportunity came up to purchase the then Ohinemuri Winery and turn a side project into her full-time job. She now can be found fermenting fruit and tasting her tipples at the renamed Karangahake Winery Estate. Don’t expect to find supermarket-standard pinot gris or sav here; while Chantelle still creates the more common varietals, her real love is for fruit wines. Persimmon, pear, feijoa, raspberry or elderberry – there’s barely a fruit she hasn’t tried to drink. Some attempts are more successful than others, but it’s all part of the fun. Her elderberry wine is a personal favourite: “It has more vitamins than an orange and more antioxidants than green tea – it’s practically a health drink.”

The Karangahake Winery

Estate also has an in-house restaurant. Chef Karen Williams has stayed on through the change of ownership, which is just as well as her platters are near-famous. “There’s so much on them and we make all of our own condiments.” The restaurant also sells pre-made meals through their Facebook page, which are perfect for travelers who have a kitchen either at their accommodation or onboard the camper, but no desire to actually cook.

The winery and restaurant are open year round for breakfast and lunch, with reduced hours during winter. Chantelle also offers B&B accommodation.

23B Moresby Street, Karangahake. (07) 862 8874, forbiddenfruitwine.co.nz