New Zealand · Wine region

Central Otago.

Central Otago is New Zealand’s southernmost wine region, a land of high mountains, lakes and river gorges that was gold-rush country in the 1800s. Its extreme climate rewards careful choice of site. In 1895 Bragato described the region as ‘pre-eminently suitable’ for winemaking, and it had already won its first gold medal, for a ‘Burgundy’, in Sydney in 1881. Stone fruit prevailed until a resurgence in the 1950s, followed by a significant commitment from the winegrowing pioneers of the 1970s that endures today in names such as Chard Farm, Rippon, Black Ridge and Gibbston Valley. Its 2,099 hectares of vines in 233 vineyards make up 5% of New Zealand’s vineyard area, and Pinot Noir is planted on about four fifths of them, alongside Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. 49 producers from Falstaff’s guide, New Zealand Winegrowers’ directory and OpenStreetMap on one map, with restaurants, places to stay and directions.

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