Guide to Central Otago, New Zealand Wine Region

1. Central Otago Wine Map
Central Otago Wine Map
A Guide To Wineries & Vineyards
45º South
Central Otago is the most southerly grape-growing
region in the world. Located at 45º south, it shares unique
geographical and climactic conditions with some of the world’s
most prestigious wine-producing regions. Burgundy and the
northern Rhone in France, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley in the
USA, are all at latitudes between 45º and 47º north. Although
small in size, Central Otago is a rapidly developing wine region
with a well-established international reputation for Pinot Noir. The
variety accounts for more than 85% of vineyard plantings, with
Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling making up the majority of
the rest. Production of sparkling wine, made from Pinot Noir and
Chardonnay grapes, has also been well-received internationally.
History
The fi rst wine-making grapes were planted in Central Otago in
1864, by Frenchman John Desire Feraud. Coming from a wine-making
family, he made his fortune in the Dunstan gold rush of
1862 and quickly recognised the region’s outstanding potential
for grape-growing. Feraud’s stone-built winery – Monte Christo
in Clyde – still survives today and his wines, sold in blue bottles
that can be seen at Clyde Museum, won prizes in Sydney and
Melbourne competitions. The fi rst modern commercial wines of
the region were produced in 1987, made with experimental grape
plantings from around Queenstown, Wanaka and Alexandra.
The Sub Regions
Central Otago is comprised of four distinct sub-regions, separated
by mountains and deep gorges. The Cromwell Basin accounts for
70% of the region’s vineyards and includes Bannockburn in the
south, Lowburn, Pisa and Bendigo to the north. A further 20% of
plantings are found around Gibbston, where most vines occupy
north-facing slopes and terraces above the dramatic Kawarau
Gorge. In the south-west of the region are Clyde and Alexandra
(7%), while the remainder (3%) are located around Wanaka, where
vineyards run down to the lakeshore against a backdrop of snow-clad
mountains and glaciers.
The Soils
Central Otago’s vineyards benefi t from a wide variety of soils,
ranging from fi ne sand and heavy silt loam to rocky schist. Each of
these soil types has a pronounced infl uence on the growth of the
vine and fl avours of the grapes and resulting wine. In most areas,
the soil is derived from loess – formed over successive ice ages
as glaciers ground rocks to a fi ne fl our – or alluvial deposits, often
with underlying gravel allowing free drainage. To the west, some of
the soils are developed on glacial outwash or moraine. There are
even small pockets of soil formed by the hydraulic sluicing carried
out by gold miners in the 19th century.
Climate
Central Otago is the only area in New Zealand with a semi-continental
climate - nowhere else in the country experiences
greater daily and seasonal extremes of temperature. Summers
are hot and dry, with autumns cool, generally dry and with cold
nights. Relatively low rainfall and humidity means a low incidence
of disease and rot, greatly reducing the need for spraying. The
large diurnal temperature variation (the diff erence between
daytime and night-time temperatures) during ripening contributes
to fl avour intensity, gives depth of colour and stability to the wines.
Heavy frosts are common throughout the winter, and can also
occur during spring and autumn. As a result, most vineyards are
on warmer, north-facing slopes. Frost protection measures such
as wind machines, water sprinklers and helicopters are also used.
Visitors to the region in April and May will witness harvest time,
when vineyards and wineries are busy picking, sorting and crushing
the fruit for the new vintage.
Alexandra i-SITE
21 Centennial Ave, PO Box 56
Alexandra
Tel +64 3 448 9515
Fax +64 3 448 9511
Email visitorcentre@codc.govt.nz
www.centralotagonz.com
Cromwell i-SITE
47 The Mall, PO Box 2
Cromwell
Tel +64 3 445 0212
Fax +64 3 445 1319
Email visitorcentre@codc.govt.nz
www.centralotagonz.com
Information
Queenstown i-SITE
Clocktower Building, Corner
Camp & Shotover Streets
Queenstown
Tel +64 3 4424100
Freephone 0800 668 888
Fax +64 3 4428907
Email info@qvc.co.nz
www.queenstowninformation.co.nz
Wanaka i-SITE
100 Ardmore Street, PO Box 147
Lake Front Wanaka
Tel +64 3 443 1233
Fax +64 3 443 1290
Email info@lakewanaka.co.nz
www.lakewanaka.co.nz
Seasons’ Activities
Spring
Bud burst/frost fi ghting
Summer
Vine tending
Autumn
Harvest and ferment
Winter
Pruning
Central Otago
Pinot Noir Celebration
A not to be missed date on
the international Pinot Noir
Calendar. The programme
includes commentary from
international speakers, seminars,
tastings and fi ne cuisine. Held
for two days, usually on the last
weekend of January. For more
information please visit the offi cial
Pinot Celebration website at
www.pinotcelebration.co.nz
Vino And Victuals Wine
And Food Festival
An enjoyable end to a summer’s
afternoon, sampling great wines
from the Cromwell Basin, nibbling
on tasty food and listening to great
music in one of ‘godzone’s’ fantastic
places! Held at the Old Cromwell
Historic Precinct, at the beginning
of January.
Gibbston Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival is held on
the third Saturday of March each
year. This is a great family event
celebrating Gibbston vineyards
and wineries as well as food
from local restaurants. For the
location of the festival and further
information, please refer to the
Gibbston Harvest Festival website
www.gibbstonharvestfestival.co.nz
Clyde Wine And Food
Harvest Festival
Easter Sunday
Enjoy Central Otago’s stunning
autumn colours, wines from more
than 20 local wineries, food, music,
market and food produce stalls in
Clyde’s historic precinct at
this annual celebration.
From 11am to 5pm, entry $5 or $10
with a festival glass.
Central Otago Winegrowers Association
P.O. Box 271 Cromwell 9342, Central Otago, New Zealand
Telephone +64 3 445 4499 • Email info@cowa.org.nz
www.cowa.org.nz
Central Otago, New Zealand: Wine Map - A Guide To Wineries & Vineyards • www.cowa.org.nz

2. Central Otago Wine Map
QUEENSBERRY
CLYDE
Central Otago
W E
To Haast
Central Otago, New Zealand: Wine Map - A Guide To Wineries & Vineyards • www.cowa.org.nz
Wanaka Mt Aspiring Rd
Aubrey Rd
Ardmore St
Ballantyne Rd
Wellington
Auckland
Christchurch
Dunedin
Queenstown
North Island
South Island
New Zealand Scale: km0 5 10
WANAKA
QUEENSTOWN CROMWELL
ALEXANDRA
LAKE
WANAKA
BANNOCKBURN
GIBBSTON
LAKE
HAWEA
ALBERT TOWN
LUGGATE
TARRAS
BENDIGO
LOWBURN
ARROWTOWN
LAKE
HAYES
CARDRONA
LAKE
WAKATIPU
FRANKTON
EARNSCLUEGH
N
S
Maungawera
Valley Rd
To Christchurch
PISA
To Dunedin
K
1
A
B
C
D
E
G
H
I
J
L
M
F
2
3
N
O
4
For detailed maps see 1. Cromwell Basin; 2. Cromwell; 3. Bannockburn; 4. Alexandra; 5. Gibbston

3. Central Otago Wine Map
Key
1 Tasting Room
2 Tasting Room & Restaurant
3 Open By Appointment Only
Please call first to arrange a
tasting and get directions.
4 Not Open To The Public
A Attraction
State Highway Number
Central Otago
Not Open To The Public
3 Domaine Jaquiery
www.domainejaquiery.co.nz
4 Three Fires
Vineyard & Winery
www.threefires.co.nz
Attractions
1 Tasting Room
Rippon Vineyard and Winery
246 Mt Aspiring Road, Wanaka
Tel (03) 443 8084 • Fax (03) 443 8034
www.rippon.co.nz
Email info@rippon.co.nz
1:30pm - 5.30pm Jul - Nov.
11am - 5pm Dec - Apr.
Appointment only May and Jun.
Group tours strictly appointment only.
Family owned and operated
vineyard and winery on the shores of
Lake Wanaka
2 Open By Appointment Only
Maude Wines
Tel (03) 443 2959 • Fax (03) 443 2960
www.maudewines.com
Email info@maudewines.com
Maude Wines produce premium Pinot
Noir, Pinot Gris & Sauvignon Blanc from
their winery in Wanaka, Central Otago.
Mount Maude
Small quantities of single vineyard wines
produced exclusively from the Family
Vineyard in Wanaka are the pinnacle of
the Maude label.
Tastings are by Appointment Only.
A Coronet Peak Skifield
B Shotover Jet
C Millbrook Golf Course
D Remarkables Skifield
E Queenstown Airport
F Kelvin Heights Golf Course
G Kawarau Bungy
H Kawarau Mining & Jet
I Cardrona Hotel
J Cardrona Skifield
K Wanaka Golf Course
L Warbirds Museum
M Puzzling World
N Treble Cone Skifield
O Snow Park NZ
Driving Times
& Distances
Cromwell to Queenstown
50 minutes / 61km
Cromwell to Wanaka
45 minutes / 55km
Cromwell to Alexandra
30 minutes / 35km
While on your
travels keep an eye
out for the Central
Otago Winegrowers
Association road signs
- an easy reference
to the vineyards and
wineries of the area.
Central Otago, New Zealand: Wine Map - A Guide To Wineries & Vineyards • www.cowa.org.nz