Bay Harbour: March 24, 2021

Bay Harbour News Wednesday March 24 2021
10
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
In Store now!
Winery buoyant in spite
of Covid-19 setback
03 322 4548 | Easy Parking
17 Lillian Street, Halswell
Open Mon-Fri 9.30am - 5.00pm
Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm
LAYBY WELCOME
• By Samantha Mythen
WHISTLING Buoy, a
family-owned winery and
vineyard nestled into the hills
surrounding Charteris Bay,
has begun its 2021 vintage.
Said managing director Neil
Pattinson: “The grapes are tasting
and looking really good.”
The winery is hopeful for
the year ahead after taking a
blow in 2020 from the effects
of Covid-19.
Air New Zealand had
chosen the winery’s 2016
wild-fermented pinot noir to
serve business class flyers on
international flights through
winter and spring of 2020. But
the pandemic grounded the
overseas fleet before it could
happen.
“This was an unfortunate
setback we could have done
without,” said Pattinson.
“We are now focusing on
our local and Banks Peninsula
roots, represented throughout
Lyttelton Harbour in shops
and supermarkets.”
The harvested grapes will be
transported to Waipara where
HARVEST: Neil and Jill Pattinson tend to the vines at
Whistling Buoy winery.
they will be made into wine.
Whistling Buoy began in
2000 when its first vines were
planted in an area which used
to be a pony paddock and then
before that, a sheep paddock.
Said Pattinson: “We first
planted the vines as an indicator
to see if the site would
produce good pinot noir, and
the proof is in the pudding.
We’ve been growing some
exceptional pinot noir.”
In 2013, it purchased Kokolo,
a vineyard in Teddington, 3km
away from their home block.
From that moment, Pattinson
said his family turned
a hobby into a commercial
business.
It’s a family affair. Pattinson,
his wife, Jill and their
son, Chris, all help out with
the vineyard. Chris studied
viticulture and oenology at
Lincoln University.
The name of the winery was
inspired by the marker buoy
between Adderley and Godley
Heads, marking the entrance
to Lyttelton Harbour.
Banks Peninsula, surprisingly
to many, has seen a
viticulture potential since
French immigrants settled in
Akaroa in 1840, bringing vine
cuttings from their homeland.
Akaroa’s suitability for
viticulture was confirmed
in 1895, when international
viticulturist Romeo Bragato
visited New Zealand shores
to determine the country’s
ability for wine making.
However, commercial
wine production only began
in the late 1970s. The first
commercial vineyard seen
in Canterbury was St Helena
Estate, established at Coutts
Island in 1978.
“To the south east, Christchurch has two extinct volcanoes
(though they wobble occasionally) which are broken up with
bays, harbours, pockets of bush and farmland which has a
sparse road network and a strong sense of isolation in parts.
A fantastic area of exploration and a playground which I enjoy
and paint, sometimes from afar and sometimes from within.
I particularly enjoy painting the dry summer tussock colours
against the blues and greens of the sea water and the low sun
sparking off the water which deliver contrast and warm vibrant
colours.
I hope some of these paintings remind you of some adventure
you have had on Banks Peninsula, the smells and tranquillity
when you can sit for a moment to rest and enjoy the view.”
Born in 1959 in Christchurch New Zealand where he lives
and works, Philip works in oil, water-colour, dry-point and
monotype. His immediate environment is Christchurch, where
he lives, with its cityscapes, the Canterbury plains, the Southern
Alps and Banks Peninsula - all sources of subject matter and
inspiration.
Philip Beadle’s exhibition runs from March 27 – April 27
at Little River Gallery.
Towards Sumner Head
Akaroa from Stony Bay Road
Philip
Beadle
PENINSULA LIGHT
27 March – 27 April 2021
Main Rd, Little River | 03 325 1944
art@littlerivergallery.com