The concentrated and elegant Chardonnay has proved the greatest success, but Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon also do well.
It is very similar to Marlborough, with summers that are sunny and dry, but tends to be warmer and more prone to devastating autumn rains. There are two main soil types: the silt of the Waimea Plains, and the heavier loam of the hillsides.