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The Winery

Located in a valley providing natural shelter, French Farm and its surrounding vineyards have their own microclimate. This attracted the first French settlers to the area for wine making in the early 1800s.

Since that time French Farm has been the first to continue the wine making traditions of the French and in 1989 vineyards were established in the French Farm Valley located on the western side of the Akaroa Harbour. This natural harbour was created by volcanic eruption, however the volcano has lain dormant for many thousands of years and nowadays provides a beautiful recreational harbour.
The Akaroa Harbour and valleys provide natural shelter giving French Farm its own microclimate. This aspect, along with the volcanic soil type, makes the location ideally suited to grape growing.

The neighbouring vineyards are situated on the northern slopes of the valley thereby utilising the heat of the sun to it's maximum potential. The slope combined with the proximity to the coast leaves the vineyard frost-free during the growing season. The soils are wind blown loam which drains freely.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes were planted initially to provide estate wines for the restaurant. Varieties have since expanded to include Sauvignon Blanc and the very popular Pinot Gris.

Each year the vineyard produces a varying amount of grapes.  Bottling of the wine takes place in Christchurch which is able to cope with the ever increasing demand for our wine.