Christchurch has been selected as the wine capital of New Zealand, beating Hastings in a bid for the title.
The bid, led by Christchurch City Council, incorporates the wine growing regions of Canterbury, Waipara Valley, Marlborough and Central Otago.
The title is awarded by French-based organisation Great Wine Capitals of the World Global Network.
Waipara Valley Wine Growers president Peter Parish says the award could add tens of millions of dollars to earnings from wine in the region.
Mr Parish says the industry has come a long way since the first grapes were planted in the valley in 1980.
