i. Biography
Peter Saunders is the winemaker of Bishops Head Wines in Waipara Valley, North Canterbury, a role grounded in one of New Zealand’s named wine regions. The work sits inside Waipara Valley wines and depends on a disciplined split between accessible varietal expression and wines built for greater texture and complexity. That balance defines the range: one line reads cleanly and directly, the other asks for more time in the glass.
The Path
Training at Lincoln University gave Peter Saunders two points of reference: a Bachelor of Business Administration, then a Master of Viticulture and Winemaking earned on his return to the same institution. That combination places business structure alongside the more exacting language of wine craft. It is a foundation suited to work that stays close to region, variety, and bottle.
The Work Today
Waipara Valley wines from North Canterbury sit at the center of the job. As winemaker, Saunders works where site, variety, cellar choices, and finished bottle meet, and the task is one of precision and restraint. The fruit has to be read as it comes, shaped only as far as the wine needs, and kept aligned with the voice intended for the label. The labels draw a clear distinction in style. Rockface wines are accessible and varietally expressive, while Bishops Head Wines are made to have greater textures and complexities. Taken together, they set out a simple internal logic: one side delivers variety in a direct register, the other leans toward depth, structure, and a more tactile finish. That contrast gives Saunders’s work its rhythm. Rather than treating every wine alike, the range uses different ambitions within the same regional frame, with each label carrying Waipara Valley into the glass with a different emphasis.
Signature
Peter's signature wines include BH Waipara Reserve Riesling 2007, Rockface 2008 Pinot Noir, Rockface Waipara Valley Pinot Gris 2014, and Rockface South Island Pinot Noir 2014. Together, these wines sketch the breadth of his range: Riesling with reserve intent, Pinot Noir across different expressions and vintages, and Pinot Gris marked by the clean clarity associated with the Rockface name.
Acclaim
The signature works attached to Saunders’s name include Rockface Waipara Valley Pinot Gris 2014. The bottle ties his work directly to Waipara Valley and to Pinot Gris from the 2014 vintage, underscoring the label’s commitment to varietal identity and regional grounding. Another named work is Rockface South Island Pinot Noir 2014. Together, the two 2014 wines mark specific examples of the Rockface approach: varietal clarity, regional identity, and accessibility in the glass. His credentials, ownership, and 2006 role at Bishops Head form the spine of a career focused on Canterbury wine. The achievement is plain but substantial: Saunders has built his work around Waipara Valley, then expressed it through distinct labels with different ambitions.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Peter
Where did Peter Saunders train or study?
Peter Saunders trained at Lincoln University, Bachelor of Business Administration and Lincoln University, Master of Viticulture and Winemaking.
What is Peter Saunders known for?
Waipara Valley wines.
