WINE: focus on Otago

The furthest south vineyard in the world is right here in New Zealand, in the challenging, rewarding region of Central Otago.

New Zealand is not short of spectacular spots to visit, but Central Otago is surely one of the best. The breathtaking approach to Queenstown via aircraft, threading through those majestic mountain ranges, is a thrill that never grows old. Perennially popular with adventure seekers, the region is just as rewarding for wine lovers.

ONE OF A KIND It’s our highest and driest wine region (the furthest south in the world), and the long, mostly cool growing season culminating in hot summer days with very cool nights is what gives Central’s wines their high-quality, vividly expressive character and complexity. It’s an unforgiving environment – almost no topsoil, little rain, frequent frosts and weather extremes – at the edge of grape-growing limits. This has ensured those who make the wines are equally hardy and passionate. When vines were first planted a few short decades ago, the wider wine community said the pioneers were completely mad. Thankfully, this just made them more determined to prove the

naysayers wrong – which they did. It’s remarkable what Central Otago now produces, from lushly fruited, exotically-spiced pinot noir, to crisp, minerally white wines (riesling and chardonnay are particular standouts), to elegant sparkling and decadent sweet wines.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? Central Otago’s hallmark perfumed, silky pinot noir makes up around 80 per cent of the wine produced. Many wines are blended from fruit sourced across the region, but it’s well worth exploring the subtle nuances of wines from the individual sub-regions too. With Gibbston’s elegant, minerally styles, the bolder, spicy Bannockburn and Bendigo expressions, the vivid red fruit of Alexandra and Wanaka wines, there’s plenty of depth to discover.

Central Otago is a rewarding region to visit in any season, but if you can’t get there in person, you can enjoy Central’s myriad wines in the comfort of your home any day of the year – see below for some of my favourites.