The majority of Akarua’s 100 hectares of vineyards are located in the prestigious Bannockburn sub-region in Central Otago. Established in 1996 when founder Sir Clifford Skeggs planted the first vines, Akarua is now the largest family owned winery in the region. Focused on producing world class pinot noir and sparkling wines at their own purpose built winery, the continued accolades and attention are a testament to the stunning quality of their wines.
Central Otago/Waitaki
As the most southern wine region in the world you’d expect Central Otago to have an extreme environment, but nothing prepares you for how unforgiving the landscape actually is. From it’s origins in the goldrush, to experiments in the early 1980’s, Central Otago has, in just three short decades, transformed itself into a powerhouse of New Zealand’s pinot noir production. With it’s moonscape-like, rocky “schisty” outcrops that absorb heat from the day and radiate it at night, dry sandy soils and rugged hillsides carpeted with scrub and wild thyme, it’s home to some of the pinot-worlds most stellar sub-regions. The vineyards of Bannockburn, Bendigo, Alexandra, Gibbston, Pisa, Lowburn and Wanaka, are all pockets of pinot noir perfection, connected by the slow moving, cloudy blue waters of the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers.
In the north there’s a rising star in the Waitaki region.
Akarua
AKARUA
Akitu
Our 12 hectare family-owned vineyard sits alone at 380 metres above sea level on a stunning north-facing slope in Central Otago’s Upper Clutha basin. Here we are obsessively dedicated to the production of exceptional Pinot noir, so obsessed that it’s all we grow. We planted the vineyard in 2002, and launched our label Akitu – which in Maori means the apex or highest point – in 2012.
AKITU
Amisfield LP
Amisfield was established in 1988, we are a specialist producer of pinot noir and aromatic white wines created from fruit grown on our estate vineyard beneath the Pisa Mountain range in the Cromwell Basin. Our privately owned company’s 200ha property, once a prominent high country merino station, is one of the largest single vineyard estates in the region. Over 80ha is currently planted with the majority of the vines being over ten years old.
AMISFIELD LP
Bald Hills
Isao Mita brings to Bald Hills his passion and commitment to
continuing the highest standards and attention to detail in wine production.
With a philosophy based in the Japanese respect for nature, Bald Hills
is embracing it’s conversion to organic production founded in the principles of the Soil Food Web. Renowned Pinot winemaker Peter Bartell is actively involved in vineyard decision making thereby bringing our aspirations to fruit
ion.
BALD HILLS
Brennan Wines
The Brennan Family planted vines in Gibbston in the mid ‘90’s, and in 2006, Sean made his first wines under the Brennan label. Family owned and operated, the grapes are 100% estate grown and are made on-site. “We make single vineyard wines that are true to sea son and place. We age our wines to allow the fine Gibbston tannins to evolve and soften, becoming more elegant on release”.
BRENNAN WINES
Burn Cottage Vineyard
Burn Cottage Vineyard is a unique 11 hectare vineyard and wider farm in Central Otago.
Predominantly planted in Pinot Noir and incorporating the diversity of 10 clones; there is also a tiny planting each of Riesling and Gruner Veltliner. The vineyard and it surrounds have been farmed from inception using biodynamic me thods. Burn Cottage winemaking is also a very natural process, with the aim of producing the finest wine – the truest reflection of the vineyard and its complexities.
BURN COTTAGE VINEYARD
Carrick
We sit firmly in the old County Riding of Carrick in Bannockburn, Central Otago. Our vines have toiled away in our glacial schist soils for over 20 years, producing estate grown wines of precision and texture. From 2008 we have maintained an organic viticulture and winemaking regime, certified through BioGroNZ. Our wines are all produced in our on-site winery and mature gracefully in the underground cellar. They reflect the place where they are grown and made.
CARRICK
Chard Farm
Chard Farm is a small family owned winery located close to Queenstown in Central Otago. Chard Farm is one of the pioneer Central Otago vineyards, its first vintage was in 1989. Since then Chard Farm has been at the forefront of developments in Central Otago, producing many critically acclaimed wines.
Chard Farm is dedicated to crafting fine and pure expressions of Pinot Noir from its five estate vineyards located in the sub-regions of Gibbston, Lowburn and Parkburn.
CHARD FARM
Cloudy Bay (Te Wahi)
In 1985, Cloudy Bay captivated the wine world with its fresh, aromatic and vibrant Sauvignon Blanc. The estate continues its drive for excellence in the Marlborough region and, since 2010, in Central Otago with powerful Pinot Noirs. Innovation, meticulous attention to detail and regional expression are the guiding principles of Cloudy Bay. The Cloudy Bay team is committed to producing ‘wines of region’ and strives to enhance the pure flavours and stunning vibrancy, naturally afforded by both sites.
CLOUDY BAY (TE WAHI)
Kim Crawford (Constellation Brands)
Our Small Parcels wines are micro-cuvées representing the very best of what New Zealand’s pristine, cool-climate vineyards can produce. They often reflect a specific site, expressing a unique terroir in a special way.
Each wine is a rare, handcrafted, world-class gem for enthusiasts and collectors.
The Kim Crawford Small Parcels Rise and Shine Pinot Noir is named after Rise and Shine Creek, which runs through the heart of Central Otago’s once famous gold mining area.
KIM CRAWFORD (CONSTELLATION BRANDS)
Crown Range
Crown Range Cellar is not your typical wine company. We don’t just make wine, we take the best New Zealand has to offer and create something quite special with it. We deal in exceptional produce, working with exceptional artisans and the best makers of wine. We combine to create a company that celebrates everything premium New Zealand has to offer.
Our hard work was rewarded when our Signature Selection Grant Taylor Pinot Noir 2013 received the IWSC Trophy for best Pinot in 2015
CROWN RANGE
Domain Road Vineyard
Domain Road has two vineyards located on Felton Road and Domain Road, Bannockburn, Central Otago.
Originally drawn to the area because of Central Otago’s legendary hot summers, Graeme and Gillian Crosbie found it also to be an ideal place to grow grapes. The unique vineyard microclimates produce high quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Domain Road wines, grown and crafted with a dedication to excellence and a traditional hands-on approach.
DOMAIN ROAD VINEYARD
Domaine-Thomson
The cockerel and kiwi in Domaine-Thomson’s symbol represent the two countries from which we produce wine.
The theodolite symbolises Central Otago – an important place in our brand from the beginning. The theodolite was used by David’s great-great-grandfather during his surveying expeditions in the south.
The scallop comes from the fireplace of the home of owners, PM Chan and David Hall Jones, on one of the routes of El Camino de Santiago. The scallop has long been popular with pilgrims to the shrine of the apostle St James in Santiago de Compostela.
DOMAINE-THOMSON
Felton Road
Felton Road is a small, artisan producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. Established in 1991, Felton Road quickly acquired a formidable global reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading premium wine producers. The four estate vineyards are located in Central Otago’s Bannockburn sub-region and are all farmed biodynamically (Demeter certified). The wine making is subtle and respectful; with an emphasis on carefully crafting site expressive wines to best express their unique vineyard origins.
FELTON ROAD
Folding Hill
At Folding Hill our approach to winemaking is based on the traditional philosophy and practices of the ‘Old World’. We believe that hand picking optimally ripe fruit and then gently guiding it through vinification with as little intervention as possible allows us to produce elegant wines with flavour and structure that authentically reflect the special place they come from – wines that really are “Handmade from Central Otago”.
FOLDING HILL
Gibbston Valley Winery
A maelstrom of creativity and vineyard diversity and has seen a blossoming of Gibbston Valley’s production. Where there was one in 1987, there are now eight Pinot Noirs given full voice. Established mature vineyards mark the Gibbston subregion; high altitude Bendigo sites the rest. Lo fi winemaking, slavish devotion and avid interest in the product has kept the team rapacious. Diversity, we say, is expression, not confusion. Or maybe both.
GIBBSTON VALLEY WINERY
Grasshopper Rock
Grasshopper Rock is the story of five families focused on establishing one of Central Otago’s greatest single vineyard wines. Established in 2003 and dedicated exclusively to Pinot Noir with a singular focus producing just one wine. 140 years ago, in April 1875, the Tuapeka Times reported “The grapes grown at Como Villa, Alexandra, this season stamp that locality as eminently adapted to the growth of the vine”. The best of the Como Villa was purchase by Grasshopper Rock in 2002 and the rest is history.
GRASSHOPPER ROCK
Kalex Wines
Kalex Wines produce beautiful, low volume wines from small parcels of premium grapes. Specialising in Pinot Noir & Riesling we also occasionally produce spectacular Chardonnay and single varietal Brut Rose. Our quality derives from meticulous standards and the unique approach of our winemaker, Theo Coles. With minimal intervention, Theo encourages the wines to express their own sense of place; resulting in romantic, complex wines, full of character that stand out from the crowd.
KALEX WINES
Loveblock Vintners Ltd
Loveblock was forged from a love affair with a view. Perched right on top of the hills overlooking Marlborough’s Awatere Valley, it is far removed from the agricultural bustle in the valley below. From here you can almost see the end of the planet, the peace lifts you above your troubles. Together, the unique terroir and integrated farming practice speak with a naked voice of place and time through wine. Grown and made with love and care.
LOVEBLOCK VINTNERS LTD
Matua Wines
Established in 1974 by innovative Kiwi brothers Ross & Bill Spence, Matua is a pioneer of the New Zealand wine industry. As first producer of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, Matua helped put NZ on the global stage. Now, Matua has a reputation for crafting exceptional Pinot Noir. With Chief Winemaker Nikolai St George, Matua has won Champion Winemaker of the Year three years running*.(*Royal Easter Wine Show 2013 & 2015, New Zealand International Wine Show 2014)
MATUA WINES
Maude Wines
Maude is a family owned wine company created by husband and wife winemaking team, Dan & Sarah-Kate Dineen, producing Maude and Mt Maude wines from their winery in beautiful Wanaka, Central Otago.
The Mt Maude wines are all single vineyard expressions from our flagship 23 year old Wanaka family estate which lies on the steep north-facing slopes of the picturesque Maungawera Valley, looking up at the mountain from which it takes its name.
MAUDE WINES
Misha’s Vineyard
Misha’s Vineyard is spectacularly located on Lake Dunstan in the Bendigo sub-region of Central Otago. The sun drenched north-west facing terraces of the 57 hectare estate provide optimal conditions for producing world-class Pinot Noir and aromatic whites. Andy & Misha Wilkinson established the vineyard in 2004 with a ‘no compromise’ philosophy requiring exacting viticulture, hand-picking and considerate winemaking with Olly Masters as winemaker. Named one of New Zealand’s Top 20 Wine Producers by Decanter (UK).
MISHA’S VINEYARD
Mount Edward
The majestic mountains and lakes of the Southern Alps are home to Mount Edward. Our winery, situated in Gibbston, just east of Queenstown, has its vineyards amongst the foothills of the Pisa Range and on the banks of the Kawerau river in Bannockburn. Mount Edward, part of the Central Otago wine community since 1998, is BioGro certified organic with this philosophy at its heart. Owned and managed by the Buchanan and Forsyth families since 2004, our winemakers Anna Riederer and Duncan Forsyth craft wines that are textural, restrained, and speak of our place here in Central Otago.
MOUNT EDWARD
Mt Difficulty Wines
Established in 1992, Mt Difficulty owns some of the oldest vineyards in the Bannockburn region of Central Otago, New Zealand. This unique area of extremes is ideally suited to crafting wines that speak with a sense of place. Our philosophy combines ethical viticulture with minimal intervention allowing the wine to express its personality and reflect its home.
MT DIFFICULTY WINES
Mud House
Our founders set sail to travel the world; only to fall in love with New Zealand. After planting vines they used the local earth to build their home. Two decades on, we continue to celebrate the spirit of striking out and breaking boundaries. Wherever you are in the world look out for our distinctive wines and celebrate your taste for adventure.
MUD HOUSE
Nanny Goat Vineyard
Nanny Goat Vineyard is named after the wild goats that roam the mountainous terrain of the Central Otago – a region of climatic extremes with typically hot summers, short autumns and bitterly cold winters – challenging conditions for producing world class cool climate wines. Since 2005 Nanny Goat Vineyard focused solely on producing premium Central Otago Pinot Noir. 2012 heralded the addition– Chardonnay and Syrah, along with the highly successful inaugural release of our ‘Super Nanny’ Pinot Noir.
NANNY GOAT VINEYARD
Nevis Bluff Wines
Nevis Bluff wines are sourced from the L’Attitude Vineyard in the Pisa sub-region of Central Otago; a region famed for long, hot summer days and cool nights. A slow ripening period produces intense fruit flavours, resulting in wines with rich aromatics, concentrated complexity and understated elegance. It is this unique terroir and philosophy to select only premium grapes, combined with a natural winemaking approach that produces these exceptional wines.
NEVIS BLUFF WINES
Ostler Vineyards Limited
Ostler Vineyards Ltd is a pioneer in New Zealand’s newest and smallest wine region – Waitaki Valley, North Otago.
They are becoming known internationally, with awards in Hong Kong, Shanghai and the UK. These include 2010, 20 11, 2013 consecutive trophy awards in London at the International Wine Challenge for Caroline’s Pinot Noir. As the best known wine from the Waitaki Valley, they consistently demonstrate a different style to those from Central Otago neighbours. Less fruity, more complex and savoury, good acidity and balance.
OSTLER VINEYARDS LIMITED
Peregrine Wines
Peregrine Wines is a boutique, artisan producer of a premium range of wines, with a focus on Pinot Noir. Located in the southernmost grape growing region in the world at latitude 45 South in Central Otago, the heart of New Zealand’s South Island, Peregrine has gained a reputation as one of New Zealand’s iconic wine brands. The Peregrine wines are named in honour of New Zealand’s endemic falcon, a bird that combines both power and finesse, the essence of Peregrine’s wines.
PEREGRINE WINES
Prophet's Rock Wines
The name ‘Prophet’s Rock’ is taken from a local landmark at the claim of pioneering goldminer Bob Prophet. It is a name that reflects our new world setting; perched on the edge in the southernmost wine growing region on earth.
Our Two vineyards were established in 1999: Bendigo and, subsequently, Rocky Point. Both are steep and elevated: Bendigo with its rare mix of soils and Rocky Point with its stony ground and almost treacherous slopes.
PROPHET'S ROCK WINES
Quartz Reef
Specialising in premium Central Otago Single Estate Methode Traditionnelle, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir; Quartz Reef showcases the proven winemaking talents of Austrian-born Rudi Bauer. Grown on a unique Pioneer site in the beautiful sub-region of Bendigo; certified Demeter Biodynamic in 2011; with higher plant density and less yield per vine, allowing more intense flavour development and rewarded with a more mature, rich yet elegant expression of a unique parcel of land.
QUARTZ REEF
Rippon
Rippon is a singular piece of land on the shores of Lake Wanaka, Central Otago. The Mills family has been farming Rippon for over 100 years and growing wine since 1982 and the focus for all who live and work here is to do justice to this remarkable piece of land and keep it alive for the generations to come.
RIPPON
Rock Ferry Wines
Established in 2005 and named after a landmark site on Marlborough’s Wairau River, Rock Ferry is a family owned organic wine estate with vineyards in Marlborough and Central Otago. Owned by Tom & Fiona Hutchison, Rock Ferry employs the exceptional talents of winemaker Allan McWilliams who turns his skills to wine styles from two of the premier winegrowing regions of New Zealand. Specialising in Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Central Otago Pinot Noir, Rock Ferry makes several versions of these world renowned wine styles: from entry level to ultra-premium.
ROCK FERRY WINES
Tarras Vineyards
Tarras Vineyards is near the township of Tarras. The home vineyard, called The Canyon, is high up on the former goldfields of Bendigo.
Established by Hayden Johnston in 2002, this organically managed vineyard consistently delivers outstanding expressions of great pinot noir with floral aromas, intense fruit, savory notes, good acidity and impressive tannins. They are distinctive, icon wines that age.
In exceptional vintages, limited, single vineyard wines are sold as Tarras The Canyon Pinot Noir.
TARRAS VINEYARDS
Terra Sancta
Terra Sancta means special place – our goal is to capture the essence of our privileged vineyard sites in each Terra Sancta wine. With four vineyards and our winery based in the premium Central Otago subregion of Bannockburn, our soul is the Terra Sancta Estate on Felton Road – the oldest vineyard in the sub-region, planted in 1991. Every wine is consistently linked to a particular part of Terra Sancta and like our unique labels, crafted to to convey a story of provenance, place and personality.
TERRA SANCTA
Thornbury Wines
Thornbury was established in 1997 with the intention of creating quality New Zealand wines to inspire wine lovers around the world – wines that celebrate life and give pleasure. Thornbury wines are produced from five of New Zealand’s most premier wine-growing regions. Our aim is to craft perfect expressions of each of our chosen varieties. We’ve searched the most prestigious districts of the country and successfully identified sites that enable us to create a selection of fine varietal wines.
THORNBURY WINES
Two Paddocks
Diminutive but distinctive foot prints of excellence throughout our great Pinot Noir region.
Two Paddocks was established in 1993 by actor, Sam Neill, with just two hectares of pinot noir – The First Paddock. Two Paddocks now encompasses four small vineyards in the major sub-regions of Central Otago – Gibbston, Bannockburn and Alexandra. Grapes are organically grown by a full time Two Paddocks Vineyard Crew. Red Bank Farm & Vineyard is the Two Paddocks polycultural Mothership – home to pigs, cattle, sheep, lavender and saffron.
TWO PADDOCKS
Valli Vineyards
“When you drink a Valli Wine, you are enjoying more than just a wine: you are experiencing a place.” – Grant Taylor, Winegrower Valli is the personal vocation of pioneering Otago winemaker, Grant Taylor, whose name is synonymous with Otago Pinot Noir. Established in 1998 and based around the estate vineyard in Gibbston, Valli creates premium Pinot Noirs and Rieslings from different Otago subregions that reflect the vineyards from which they come.
VALLI VINEYARDS
Waitiri Creek Wines Ltd
‘Opulent’, ‘stylish’, ‘distinctive’, ‘bold’, ‘hedonistic’, ‘elegant’, ‘wine to fall in love with’ – just some of the descriptions applied to Waitiri Creek Pinot Noir in recent years..
Established in 1993, we produce single vineyard Pinot Noir from Gibbston, Central Otago which displays sophisticated flavour profiles, balance, suppleness and finesse. Sustainable principles are applied in the vineyards and winemaking.
WAITIRI CREEK WINES LTD
Wooing Tree
Award winning Wooing Tree is a family owned vineyard in the heart of Central Otago, where we specialise in making pinot with passion. With numerous accolades, medals, and trophies, our wine has quickly won the hearts of wine lovers and writers around the world. The Wooing Tree, a local landmark, sits prominently in the middle of the vineyard. The tree has long been a popular place for locals to woo their lovers.
