QUICK WINERY FACTS
  • Owners: Sir Clifford Skeggs + Family
  • Grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Rosé, Riesling and Sparkling Wine
  • Size: 110+ hectares
  • Date first planted: 1996
  • Wine labels: Akarua
  • Winemaker: Andrew Keenleyside

AKARUA WINERY

Akarua is in the heart of Bannockburn on Cairnmuir Road. Set up early on for large scale commercial production the winery can handle nearly all the grapes from the vineyard in one go. The advantage of this is that all the grapes can be harvested at once when they are optimally ripe and immediately fermented without the risks of disease or decay and there is no rush to complete fermentation and get the wines into storage to make way for other ripe grapes.

There are 5 Akarua vineyards covering over 100 hectares spread over three distinct areas all with different soil composition.

The best bit of Akarua is that we don’t need to travel all the way to Bannockburn to taste these excellent wines. Akarua have established a tasting room and sumptuous restaurant beside the iconic Lake Hayes not far from Arrowtown.