A Canterbury winery lost over a million dollars worth of wine in a fire on Thursday night.
Graeme Coles, managing director of Crater Rim Winery in the Waipara Valley, said he was alerted to the blaze when he heard bottles exploding from his home 200 metres away.
By the time the Fire Service arrived, the winery was well ablaze, with explosions presenting hazards for fire fighters.
About 150 barrels of top pinot noir were ruined, along with white wine in tanks and bottled wine, The Press reported.
"We still have our entry level pinot, but the fancy stuff we get awards for has gone up in smoke," said sales and marketing manager Ben Coles.
He said some of the pinot destroyed could have fetched over $100 a bottle.
The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, but Graeme Coles said it appeared to have been sparked by an electrical fault.
He said the family-owned winery was insured and details of what was covered were being worked out.
