Central Otago
Central Otago
Central Otago is the world's most southerly wine region, located near the bottom of New Zealand's South Island. It is distinctive amongst the major regions of New Zealand as it does not rely on a maritime climate, and is instead dependent on breath-taking mountainous landscapes and sweeping river valleys for the climatic conditions to produce its grapes. Historically a gold-mining region, the intrepid mindset of the early settlers must have translated to the wine pioneers of Central Otago in the 1970s. The landscape is extreme, and the seasonal variations shorten the growing season. Most vineyards are planted on sun-facing hillsides, which helps make the most of the hot, dry summer days. The glacial soils are mainly greywacke and schist, with wind-blown loess, clay and loam. Central Otago Pinot Noir, has a style that is unique to the region. Intense, deeply coloured wines are flavoured with dark plums and cherries. Dry, flinty Riesling and Pinot Gris have also achieved acclaim here, while the region's beauty and unspoilt landscapes have seen wineries thrive as tourist operations.
