The five best wineries in New Zealand for weddings and engagement

Everything about Craggy Range is top-end. If the dramatic splendour of Te Mata peak towering above isn’t enough to entice you in, then this rustic-meets-modern venue surely will. The wine also lives up to the world-beating location: some of their red varietals are grown in the highly-coveted Gimblett Gravels sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. You can even opt for full exclusivity of the winery and restaurant for your big day. If you want to push the boat out further, the luxurious cottages can be rented for up to 30 guests.

When you say, ‘New Zealand wine’ many people think of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. However, the serene beauty of this grape’s home is often overlooked - making this an undersung yet premium location for an extra-special occasion. Among the dozens of winery venues to choose from, Wither Hills is the pick of the bunch, offering a range of intimate reception areas and plenty of outdoor space for your guests to roam among the vine rows. With the estate perched just high enough, you can enjoy the sun setting over the vines which seem to carpet the vast Wairau Valley plains as far as you can see.

If it’s a Hollywood entrance you’re after, then this place is for you. Any wedding or engagement party at The Canyon yells ‘epic’. It’s just a question of how epic you want to go. Tablecloths presumably secured, the Canyon’s helipad sits close to one of the many indoor-outdoor reception areas, allowing you to wow your guests on arrival after choppering in over the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps. Never out of sight of the jaw-dropping Lake Dunstan valley, The Canyon boasts a range of location sizes and styles for a meal and a party that will take you and your guests to new heights.

Nothing says premium New Zealand wedding quite like the sight of Stonyridge in full-flow. The generous garden and deck area overlooking the vines are the perfect place to begin proceedings with a sunny cocktail. Opposite you, the craggy escarpment after which Stonyridge is named, provides a Tuscan backdrop to festivities. All of this is just a 40-minute ferry-ride - or a 10-minute helicopter ride - from downtown Auckland. Ceremonies can take place in the private olive grove just around the corner - which is also where Stonyridge’s world-famous Larose wines get their corks. If you can stretch to a drop of this Bordeaux-rivalling blend as a treat for your guests, they’ll remember this day forever.