Central Otago

Central Otago, nestled amongst the dramatic Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island, is the world's southernmost commercial wine region. It is a place of breathtaking natural beauty, with vineyards set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear rivers, and deep blue lakes. Despite its extreme, continental climate, Central Otago has earned a global reputation for producing some of the world's finest Pinot Noir, known for its intensity, structure, and vibrant fruit character.

Food Pairings with Central Otago Wines

Pinot Noir: The classic pairing is with local lamb. It is also excellent with duck, venison, grilled salmon, and mushroom dishes.
Pinot Gris: Pair with roast chicken, pork dishes, or creamy pasta.
Riesling: A great match for spicy food or fresh seafood.

Geography & Climate

Central Otago is the only wine region in New Zealand with a truly continental climate. It is surrounded by high mountains that block the coastal rains, making it the country’s driest wine region. The climate is one of extremes: winters are freezing cold, while summers are hot and dry.

The key to its success is the massive diurnal temperature range during the long, sunny autumn days. This allows the Pinot Noir grapes to develop intense, concentrated fruit flavours while the cold nights help to retain the acidity and structure essential for high-quality wine.

History of Central Otago

While French settler Jean Desire Feraud planted the first vines during the gold rush of the 1860s, Central Otago’s modern wine story began much more recently. In the 1980s, a few brave pioneers, defying expert advice that the region was too cold for viticulture, began planting Pinot Noir. Alan Brady of Gibbston Valley, Rolfe and Lois Mills of Rippon, and others proved that the region’s unique climate could produce world-class wine.

The region’s reputation has grown exponentially since, and it is now considered one of the top five places in the world for Pinot Noir.

Subregions and Appellations

The highest and coolest sub-region, known as the "valley of the vines." It produces elegant, fragrant, and savory Pinot Noir.

A warm, dry, and sunny sub-region famous for its powerful, structured, and earthy Pinot Noirs from heavy schist soils.

A warmer area on the valley floor, producing generous, fruit-forward, and silky-textured Pinot Noir.

One of the warmest sub-regions, known for producing dark, rich, and powerful Pinot Noirs.

A small but growing area with a cooler climate, producing elegant and complex wines.

Signature Wine Styles

Red

Pinot Noir: This is the undisputed star of Central Otago, accounting for over 80% of plantings. The style is typically powerful and fruit-forward, with a rich texture and concentrated flavors of black cherry, plum, and raspberry, often complemented by savory notes of spice and wild thyme. The wines have a firm tannic structure and can age beautifully.

White

The region also produces excellent aromatic white wines. Pinot Gris is the most widely planted white grape, producing rich, textural wines with pear and stone fruit flavours. Riesling, often made in a dry or off-dry style, is crisp and mineral-driven, while Chardonnay is elegant and complex.

Notable Producers

Felton Road

A world-renowned biodynamic producer in Bannockburn, whose Pinot Noirs are considered among the best in the New World.

Rippon

A stunningly beautiful estate on the shores of Lake Wanaka, one of the region's pioneers, known for its terroir-driven, minimal-intervention wines.

Gibbston Valley Winery

The original pioneer of the region, famous for its high-quality Pinot Noir and for having New Zealand's largest wine cave.

Burn Cottage Vineyard

A biodynamic estate in the Cromwell Basin making highly sought-after, elegant, and complex Pinot Noir.

Prophet's Rock

A producer of exceptional, terroir-focused Pinot Noir and Riesling from its Bendigo and Pisa vineyards.

Fun Facts about Central Otago

Central Otago is the setting for much of the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, and its dramatic landscape is recognized by fans worldwide.
The region experienced a major gold rush in the 1860s, and remnants of this history can be seen throughout the area.
Wild thyme, a herb that grows prolifically throughout the region, is often cited as a characteristic savory note in Central Otago Pinot Noir.
Due to the dry climate and low disease pressure, many vineyards in Central Otago are farmed organically or biodynamically.