Wine Time: Brick Bay beauty

If you’re based in Auckland but haven’t got the time to take a long weekend or a trip to the South Island, worry not. This winery is just an hour north of Auckland.

Brick Bay Wines - Snells Beach, Warkworth

Though the building is nestled amongst quaint hills, the architecture of Brick Bay Wines, designed by award-winning architect Noel Lane in 2007, packs a contemporary punch. There are no overtones of Tuscan rusticity; instead a hothouse-like structure formed from Perspex and glass cantilevers out over a lake and rambling grounds. The semi-transparent panel walls allow a tantalising glimpse of the on-site sculpture trail, while the coloured panels that distinguish the administration areas from the main service areas, glow like gemstones in the evening. brickbay.co.nz

What to drink: 2012 Brick Bay Rosé, given five stars by New Zealand master sommelier Cameron Douglas.