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North Canterbury is a large wine region on the eastern side of New Zealand's South Island. At its southern end lies the city of Christchurch.

As of mid 2019 it was "under examination" regarding status as an official Geographic Indication. The broader Canterbury region, running south to the Waitaki Valley, does have GI status. It still appears on many wine labels produced within the North Canterbury zone.

The zone included a handful of subregions which may appear on a wine label instead of the North Canterbury designation. Of these, Waipara (Valley) is the only current GI.

Just to the southwest of the city of Christchurch lie the volcanic vineyards of the Banks Peninsula. On its western outskirts lie most of the remaining vineyards of the Canterbury Plains, as well as the important viticultural and oenology research center at Lincoln University.

The vineyards here are among the oldest on the South Island, with the first commercial sites planted in 1978. The oldest Pinot Noir in the country is planted near Lake Ellesmere. Soils are mostly based on Greywacke gravels.

However many were abandoned as growers realised that growing conditions were less challenging elsewhere. Many shifted focus to the more sheltered Waipara Valley and Marlborough regions. Riesling and Pinot Noir are the main grape varieties today.

Waipara lies an hour's drive north of Christchurch. It is protected from coastal weather by a range of hills. Numerous varieties are grown but Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from here are gaining particular acclaim. Sauvignon Blanc from the region tends to be quite distinct in style from Marlborough, with more sour-citus aromas and flavors.

Waipara is further split into two zones. The Glasnevin Gravels lie on the valley floor, close to the Waipara River. The first vineyards were planted in the early 1980s. Omihi is in the north of the Valley. The lower slopes are more clay based while the hilltops have more limestone. The first vines were planted in 1986.

Inland from Waipara lie the Waikari Hills. In the late 1990s a couple of now high-profile estates were established on some of the limestone outcrops which dot the area near the Weka Pass. In fact Bell Hill's vines are planted in an old chalk quarry. A few kilometers further west lies Pyramid Valley Vineyards.

The estates lie outside the GI zone for the Waipara Valley, but are included in that region in some sources. Both producers use the Canterbury designation.