This paper describes an international study into the climate variability within the Waipara region of Canterbury, New Zealand and its importance to viticulture. The complex terrain of the region results in intricate patterns of climate variability, which can create significant spatial variability in the optimal conditions needed for high quality wine production. This high spatial variability depends on climatic conditions throughout the vine's growing season, but also on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Such is the case with spring frosts, which often occur after vine budburst and represent a major risk for winegrowers, potentially resulting in significant yield losses. Winegrowers require precise information on the scale of their vineyards, which means they need to improve their forecasting of the areas most exposed to the risk of frost, based in particular on local topographical features and atmospheric conditions. This research uses advanced techniques to map key climate parameters at high spatial resolution during spring frost events with a combination of field measurement (climate and phenology) and climate modelling techniques. This approach was developed during the spring of 2020 (e.g. September 30, 2020 and October 16, 2020), when several frost episodes caused significant damage in New Zealand winegrowing regions, particularly in the Waipara region. The results have made it possible to map precisely the spatial variability of minimum temperatures and the most frost-sensitive areas as a function of atmospheric conditions. This information can then be used to select optimal locations for less sensitive grape varieties and to precisely define the application of spring frost protection techniques. The outputs also provide a general framework within which to evaluate adaptation of viticulture to frost risk in other vineyard regions of New Zealand and elsewhere.