In 1987, on the banks of the Halswell River (and just 15 minutes from Christchurch city centre) Brent & Shirley Rawstron first planted 3 ha. of vines. They now have a well established, medal winning reputation. The 2001 Pinot Noir is an excellent wine showing fragrant aromas of raspberries, game and spiced oak. It is soft on the palate, with sweet fruit and a lingering finish. Highly recommended.

Torlesse is named after a mountain range which is visible from the Canterbury plains. 2000 was an excellent vintage in Waipara providing fully-ripened fruit. The wine that Kym Rayner (part owner and winemaker) has created is drinking well now and has warm berry fruit and spicy medium toast oak aromas and flavours with a touch of "forest floor". What we have here is a classic "iron fist in velvet glove" kind-of-a-wine; elegant, yet full bodied, with a complex palate and a firm finish. Beautiful with full flavoured foods.

Torlesse Wines own two vineyards in the Waipara and Canterbury areas and also source grapes from selected local vineyards to make premium quality, hand crafted wines. Kim Rayner personally oversees each vintage and has won several awards for his wines. The grapes for his Waipara Selection Merlot are hand harvested and after fermentation are pressed in a traditional basket press. They are matured in French oak barrels for up to 12 months. The result is a warm, friendly and comforting red wine.