Loading ...Matakana And Around Auckland Region New Zealand
Matakana suffers from reverse alcoholism – the more wine gets poured into it, the more genteel it becomes. A few years ago it was a nondescript rural village with a handful of heritage buildings and an old-fashioned country pub. Now the locals watch bemused as Auckland’s chattering classes idle away the hours in stylish wine bars and cafés. The most striking symbol of the transition is the fantastical Matakana Cinemas (09-422 9833; www.matakanacinemas.co.nz; 2 Matakana Valley Rd; adult/child $10/8; 10am-8.30pm) complex, its domed roof reminiscent of an Ottoman bathhouse. The humble Farmers Market (8am-1pm Sat) is held in its shadow – or should that be Farmers Upmarket?
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The reason for this epicurean ecstasy is the success of the area’s boutique wineries. They’re developing a name for Pinot Gris, Merlot, Syrah and a host of obscure varietals. Local vineyards are detailed in the free Matakana Coast Wine Country brochure, available from the Matakana Information Centre (09-422 7433; www.matakanacoast.com; 10am-1pm Tue-Sun) in the foyer of the cinema. In the same building, the Vintry (09-423 0251; tastings from $8.50; 10am-10pm) is a wine bar that serves as a one-stop cellar door for all the producers.
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