Wine region: Central Otago
This is the Central Otago wine region. The largest, oldest and southernmost of New Zealand’s regions, Central Otago includes a number of smaller areas: Alexandra District, Cromwell Basin, Wanaka, Bannockburn and Gibbston.
Central Otago has around 170 producers with vineyards covering 1,400 hectares and over 60 wineries. It produces around 2 million liters of wine per year. Of this amount, 90 percent comes from Pinot Noir grapes that thrive in its climate.
The region produces roughly 500 labels each year and exports 30 percent of them to countries including Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Central Otago also imports a small quantity of wines from other regions in New Zealand as well as Australia and France.
There are approximately 60 winemakers in the area who work closely with growers to produce their wines. These partnerships enable winemakers to better understand their vineyards’ terroir—the land on which vines grow—and achieve their desired results for every batch of grapes they pick at harvest time each year
Location
The Central Otago region covers the southern area of New Zealand’s South Island. It covers 3,000 square kilometers and has a population of 29,000 people. The town of Alexandra is considered the wine region’s center. You can see the full extent of the Central Otago region in this map:
History
The history of wine-making in Central Otago is not a long one; although the first vines were planted here in 1864, the region was largely abandoned after the gold rush. The 1970s became a period of repopulation and it wasn’t until 1981 that the first winery was established.
This winery, Gibbston Valley Winery, was one of only 10 vineyards that existed in 1987 when New Zealand officially recognized Central Otago as its most southerly wine-growing region. Since then, this region has grown rapidly and there are now over 120 vineyards across four sub-regions: Bannockburn, Cromwell Basin, Wanaka and Queenstown.
Climate and geography
Central Otago is a dry and continental area, with moderate temperature ranges that give way to cool nights. The climate here is exceptional for wine production, and the stony soils and elevation mean that vines have to dig deep to find their nutrients. This contributes to excellent flavor profiles in the resulting wines.
The region of Central Otago is surrounded by large lakes, rivers, and mountains—the biggest being Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring​. These are visible from many vineyards in the region, which makes for a gorgeous backdrop for an afternoon drink.
Grape varieties
- Pinot Noir is the most prominent red grape of the Central Otago region.
- The most popular white wine in the region is Pinot Gris, followed by Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay. Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah are also produced in limited quantities.
Subregions
The Central Otago region is further divided into four subregions, which you might find indicated on a label. They are:
- Burn Cottage and Bannockburn. The land of rolling hills and the convergence of two rivers, this area has been producing wines for over 100 years. Pinot Noir is the main wine here, but Chardonnay does well as well.
- Cromwell Basin. Located at the northeastern corner of Central Otago, this valley is surrounded by mountains on three sides and has its own microclimate that helps produce big reds with great structure—favorites include Syrah and Pinot Noir from Bannockburn in particular.
- Lowburn and Pisa Ranges. This area produces some stellar Pinots that are rich in flavor but have a silky *finish*.
- Gibbston Valley to Wanaka. This region’s wineries are easily accessible via Highway 6; it’s known for its fruit-driven dry Rieslings and Pinots that have good aging potential.
Central Otago is the southernmost commercial winegrowing area in the world
Central Otago is the southernmost commercial winegrowing area in the world. It has a latitude of 45 degrees south, which puts it on a similar latitude to some French winegrowing areas such as the Rhone Valley. The region is located on New Zealand’s South Island, in the middle of Central Otago, surrounded by the Southern Alps and national parks.
The region has 14,000 hectares planted to vines and produced 1.1 million cases in 2017 (latest figures available).