Central Otago
New Zealand’s southernmost wine region. This spectacular landscape is home to some of the world’s best Pinot Noir, along with impressive white wines of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.
The six winegrowing sub-regions are all within close reach, with each unique climate, aspect and altitude expressing distinctive wine styles.
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Central Otago Wine
Central Otago is located at latitude 45º south, east of the resort town of Queenstown and includes the small towns of Wanaka, Cromwell and Alexandra. This region is similar to both Oregon’s Willamette Valley and the northern Rhone valley in France.
The vineyards are the highest in New Zealand, located between 200 and 400 metres above sea level, in deep valleys and surrounded by spectacular mountainous scenery rising to 2000 metres.The region experiences very low rainfall (40cms per year at Bannockburn) and low humidity. Heavy frosts are common throughout winter and frost can occur at any time between march and November.
The regions climate is semi-continental with greater daily and seasonal extremes of temperature than are found elsewhere in New Zealand. This in conjunction with low cloud cover and high sunshine hours contributes to flavour intensity, giving depth of colour and stability to the wines.
Soil types range from wind-blown sands to heavier silt loams and weathered schist, mostly derived from loess or alluvial deposits, often with underlying gravels allowing free drainage.
