PINOT NOIR
It’s no accident that the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration is one of the biggest events on the international wine calendar. Thanks to the region’s talented producers as well as the richness of the landscape itself, Central Otago is one of the world’s
Central Otago is famed for its pinot. Unlock its magic with these 13 wines.
More than 20 years ago, Central Otago wine pioneers Alan Brady and Rudi Bauer got together over a glass of wine to discuss how to showcase the area’s wines to an increasing number of pinot noir fans.
Given the tendency of pinot noir fans to enjoy a good party, it seemed the best way to do this would be with an event reaching out to connoisseurs both in and outside the wine industry with a particular passion for the variety. Thus the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration was born. This event now attracts wine writers, sommeliers and pinot lovers from around the world to attend the tastings, listen to the speakers, and generally party through three days and nights.
Recently there’s been a shift from the original idea of showing the wines against their counterparts and benchmark wines from Europe, US, and Australia. These days the emphasis is more on demonstrating that wines from the region are consistent overachievers, as well as highlighting the differences within the six subregions of Wanaka, Bendigo, Bannockburn, Gibbston, Lowburn and Alexandra.
Although the organisers were keen to show that New Zealand pinot noir has earned a place alongside other fine wines, they also wanted to focus on inviting pinot noir lovers themselves to the region. This year’s event emphasised context by touring participants through different growing areas (yours truly especially enjoyed the jaunt on the e-bike) – through the lens of particular soil types, seasonal variations, farming philosophies and seeing how each manifests itself in a glass.
This annual event has become a mustattend for locals and internationals – our friends the Bragmans came from San Carlos, California this year for the 21st time.
Part of the reason for the ongoing success is the way the organisers reinvent the format constantly, keeping the Celebration fresh and interesting: just like a great glass of pinot.