MENISCUS WINE LOUNGE
Looking up from in the township of Akaroa to the south side one can see the vineyard of Meniscus Wines, Venture up Lighthouse road to the Cellar Door that looks down over the riesling and pinot noir vines with the pinot gris area hidden by native trees that were planted in 1998- 99 at the same time as the vines.
At the Cellar Door visitors can buy and taste a sample of all of the three types of wine or samples of the vintages still available from each type. Vintages change slightly due to the climate variations of each growing season. The current owners David and Gay Epstein started Meniscus Wines back in 2009 taking over the ten year old Graeme Vanstone vineyard.
The wines can be purchased at the Cellar Door and at the Barrys Bay Cheese Factory and the Little River Store. The local restaurants Bully Hayes, the Little Bistro, Ma Maison, Rona’s and the Trading rooms all have them available.
Some vintages have sold out but it is fascinating to taste the differences due to the weather conditions - sun, rain and wind from each year whilst the underlying taste from the volcanic soil remains constant and gives the Meniscus wines their unique award winning flavour.
Visitors this season include many from the ships now coming to Akaroa and surprisingly they enjoy walking up from the wharf just under a kilometre from the town. It is a complete change from being on their ocean liners and enjoyed by all. Those who want a lift up can call the Cellar Door and will be picked up at the wharf area.
All are enthralled by the view to the North from the cellar door and the terrace over the whole of the Akaroa township.
Meniscus provides a snack menu that includes food from the Akaroa area such as Barry’s Bay cheese factory, the Akaroa Butchers ham, salmon from the Akaroa Salmon farm and the locally grown olives. All a delight to enjoy with a glass of Meniscus Wine.
An added attraction is Gay’s monarch butterflies. The whole life cycle is viewable in season.
The Cellar door is open from 2pm on Fridays through to Mondays and from 10am on cruise ship days. Gay and David look forward to welcoming you in the near future.