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CENTRAL OTAGO

Vineyard History

During the Central Otago gold rush in the 1860’s a French goldminer called Jean Desire Feraud, discovered gold near Alexandra.  Jean was from a winemaking family, and he quickly realized the regions potential for grape growing. 
Jean purchased land near Clyde called Monte Cristo.  He started planting vines and embarking upon small-scale commercial wine production.  He imported vines from Australia and by 1870 he had planted over 1200 vines and built a stone winery.  Jean even exhibited his Monte Christo wines in Sydney, and won wide recognition.  However, Jean struggled to find a market for his wine in New Zealand, a young country of sheep and cattle farmers, where beer drinking prevailed.  In 1882, Jean sold the Monte Christo vineyard and moved to Dunedin.  The vineyard was turned back into farmland.
In 1895 a visiting Italian viticulturist, Romeo Bragato, toured New Zealand on behalf of the government.  He enthused over the Central Otago regions wine growing potential, recording that “there was no stateable limit to the productiveness of the magnificent territory”.
Starting in the 1950’s, there was some small-scale trial plantings of vines, however it was not until the 1990’s that the industry began to grow rapidly.  In 1996, there were 11 wineries in the Central Otago region, today there are over 130.

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Cromwell Basin

AKARUA VINEYARD

Located on three glacially-formed terraces at the foothills of the mountains, four varietals are planted here – 80% pinot noir with the rest in chardonnay, pinot gris and riesling.

Now a part of the Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Estate, they are currently converting to organic winemaking with the hopes of certification for the 2026 vintage.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Rosé

  • Chardonnay

  • Pinot Gris

  • Sauvignon Blanc

Cromwell Basin

BURN COTTAGE VINEYARD

Located in the foothills of the Pisa range, the vineyard was established in 2002 by the Sauvage family. Believing in minimal intervention winemaking, relying on the lunar and celestial rhythms to help in the creation of their wines. Specializing in Pinot Noir and Riesling, and certified BioGro having established and practiced biodynamics from the beginning.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Riesling

  • Gruner Veltliner

Cromwell Basin

CARRICK

Carrick, named after the gold-mining town and the mountain range to which the estate points, is a certified organic vineyard, winery, restaurant, and cellar door located in beautiful Bannockburn.
At Carrick, they are committed to crafting small production, estate-grown, certified organic wines that speak of their unique location.  Twenty-four hectares of vines are nestled around the winery and produce delightful Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir Rose.

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  • Pét Nat

  • Pinot Noir

  • Rosé

  • Riesling

  • Pinot Gris

  • Sauvignon Blanc

  • Chardonnay

Cromwell Basin

CLOUDY BAY

Cloudy Bay was established in 1985 and was one of the first five wine makers in Marlborough.  In 2014, they bought Northburn Vineyard near Cromwell.  
Nestled between the bronzed hills of the Northburn Vineyard and the splendid Lake Dunstan, Cloudy Bay offers a full range of tastings in beautiful setting. In winter, the burning fireplaces invite visitors to enjoy a tasting flight in a cozy and warm atmosphere, whereas in summer the breathtaking outdoor spaces appeal to those wishing to indulge in a moment of relaxation.

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  • Sauvignon Blanc

  • Chardonnay

  • Pinot Noir

  • Sparkling

  • Rosé

Alexandra Basin

CLYDE VILLAGE

Clyde Village is a boutique vineyard overlooking the historic gold mining town of Clyde.  Planted in 2003, and releasing the first vintage in 2006, Clyde Village has been perfecting the art of producing Pinot Noir for over 15 years.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Pinot Gris

  • Rosé

Alexandra Basin

COMO VILLA

Como Villa was established during the Dunstan gold rush era.  The original stone house built in 1865 and an underground cellar on the property, have been lovingly restored for a rustic ambience and unique tasting experience.  Como Villa is a boutique, family owned and operated vineyard specialising in aged Pinot Noir.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Rosé

  • Pinot Gris

  • Gewürztraminer 

  • Sauvignon Blanc/Riesling/Chardonnay Blend

  • Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Malbec Blend

Cromwell Basin

DESERT HEART

Desert Heart is located on the iconic Felton Road in Bannockburn.  Specialising in aged Pinot Noir, Desert Heart Vineyard offers a tasting experience in a timeless and immense Central Otago landscape.  Sweeping vistas of the mountains, river and gold sluicing's add to the dramatic panorama.

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  • Rosé

  • Pinot Gris

  • Chardonnay

  • Pinot Noir

Cromwell Basin

DOMAIN ROAD VINEYARD

Domain Road Vineyard, specialises in award-winning cool climate wines. From grapes grown in the heart of Central Otago wine country, they produce Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Rosé, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris wines. Dedication to excellence combined with a traditional approach means Domain Road Vineyard's wines are now nationally and internationally recognised.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Sauvignon Blanc

  • Riesling

  • Symposium

  • Pinot Gris

  • Rosé

  • Chardonnay

Cromwell Basin

DOMAINE THOMSON

Domaine Thomson's elevated site above the valley floor offers spectacular views of the Cromwell Basin and Lake Dunstan.  The 14-hectare vineyard grows just one variety, a "single vineyard" Pinot Noir.  The organic vineyard has been fully certified with BioGro since 2014 and most of the vineyard work is carried out by hand.

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  • Rosé

  • Pinot Noir

  • Chardonnay

  • Methode Traditionelle

Alexandra Basin

DUNSTAN ROAD WINES

Dunstan Road is a small, artisan vineyard located in the Alexandra Basin.  The boutique vineyard is family owned and operated and set in a beautiful, dramatic, rugged landscape.  The vineyard has two hectares of vines, the majority being Pinot Noir, with individual rows of Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Riesling.  Dunstan Road strive to produce delicious wines with minimal impact on the environment.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Pinot Gris

  • Riesling

  • Gewürztraminer 

  • Rosé

Cromwell Basin

FELTON ROAD

Established in 1991 on the north facing slopes at the end of Felton Road in Bannockburn. The location's research revealed it was ideal for the production of premium quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. Since 2002 the vineyards have been managed organically and biodynamically.  In 2020 all four vineyards were certified by BioGro.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Riesling

  • Chardonnay

Alexandra Basin

GREY RIDGE ESTATE

Grey Ridge is a small boutique vineyard which produces a limited quantity of top quality single-vineyard Pinot Noir wine each year.  Grey Ridge is dedicated to sustainable production and operates under the NZ Winegrowers sustainable vineyard accreditation.

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  • White Pinot Noir

  • Rosé

  • Pinot Noir

Alexandra Basin

IMMIGRANTS VINEYARD/RURU

Overlooking the Clutha River and Old Man Range, Immigrants Vineyard is one of the most southern vineyards in New Zealand.  The 19 hectare vineyard is planted in mainly Pinot Noir grapes with some Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay.  As an accredited Sustainable Winegrowers vineyard, owners Roland and Lucienne follow sustainable practices to look after the health of the vines and increase organic matter in the soils.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Riesling

  • Chardonnay

  • Rosé

  • Merlot

  • Pinot Gris

  • Gewürztraminer 

  • Cherry Wine

Alexandra Basin

JUDGE ROCK

Elegant, Sensuous, Intimate.  Judge Rock is a small, family owned, boutique vineyard producing award winning Pinot Noir.  The vineyard grew from an idea that with love of the land and attention to detail, the site would make great Pinot Noir.  Judge Rock Pinot Noir is highly recognised, having won many awards including the Pinot Noir Trophy and the Best Red Wine Trophy at the 2016 Australia and New Zealand Boutique Wine Show.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Pét Nat

  • Rosé

  • Port

  • Blanc de Noir

  • St Laurent

Cromwell Basin

MT DIFFICULTY

Comprised of many vineyards, spanning Central Otago from Gibbston, to Lowburn Valley, to Bendigo. However their home remains in Bannockburn where their world class restaurant sits with a spectacular view. Mt Difficulty is well known for their Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc along with Riesling and Chardonnay.

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  • Riesling

  • Pinot Gris

  • Pinot Noir

  • Rosé

  • Chardonnay

  • Syrah

  • Sauvignon Blanc

  • Gewürztraminer 

Cromwell Basin

MISHA'S VINEYARD

The vineyard's journey began in 2004, and ever since, planting and developing hasn't stopped. Born out of passion for quality wine, and followed up by dedication and committment to creating wines that suited not only Western food but also Asian. Fully certified under the SWNZ, they specialize in Pinot Noir along with aromatic white varietals including Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Sauvignon Blanc

  • Riesling

  • Rosé

  • Pinot Gris

  • Gewürztraminer

Cromwell Basin

MAORI POINT WINES

Maori Point is named after the Maori prospectors who panned for gold there in the 1860''s.  Ringed by the Southern Alps and carved by glaciers, Maori Point sits above the banks of the Mata-Au (Clutha River).  Dr. John Harris and Dr Marilyn, two scientists from the University of Otago, planted the vineyard in 2002. As scientists they aspire to understand the land, the ecosystem and the wine it creates.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Chardonnay

  • Rosé

  • Pinot Gris

  • Riesling

Cromwell Basin

MONDILLO VINEYARD

Established in 2001 and set in the rugged rural environment of Bendigo Station, Mondillo was born out of a life long love for creating great wine. Specialising in Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay, the vineyard is also home to some of the oldest Gewürztraminer vines in Central Otago. They are a strong believer in the wine industry's programme - Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ).

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  • Rosé

  • Riesling

  • Pinot Noir

Alexandra Basin

MONTE CHRISTO WINERY

A family-owned winery located in the Alexandra Basin focused on limited-production, elegant wines crafted from our organically farmed estate vineyards.

The oldest vineyard in Central Otago, established by the frenchman Jean Desiré Féraud who was a goldminer turned winemaker and is credited to being the first commerical winemaker in the region.

The estate now grows pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot gris.

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  • Rosé

  • Pinot Gris

  • Chardonnay

  • Pinot Noir

Cromwell Basin

PROPHET'S ROCK

Harvesting by hand, on the terraces of Bendigo, their Pinot Gris and Riesling are treated with such care and love throughout the entire harvesting, production and bottling process.Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris have been their specialties on their Home Vineyard, but there are plans for Chardonnay, Muscat and Gewurztraminerin to appear over the next few years.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Pinot Gris

  • Riesling

Alexandra Basin

PERSEVERANCE ESTATE

Perseverance Estate is a family owned, boutique vineyard producing handcrafted, single vineyard, award winning wines.  Perseverance Estate derives its name from a current wheel gold dredge, built in 1886 by the “father” of gold dredges, Louis Gards. This dredge worked at Mutton Town Point on the Clutha River until 1889.  Today Perseverance produces quality, locally crafted Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Rose, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Chardonnay.

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  • Chardonnay

  • Pinot Noir

  • Pinot Gris

  • Riesling

  • Rosé

Cromwell Basin

QUARTZ REEF

Named after New Zealand’s largest quartz deposit that lies beneath the vineyards at Bendigo Station, Quartz Reef has become the vessel for what winemaker Rudi Bauer calls - his search to make wines which exhibit “a symphony of flavours” that “capture attention and entertain so that you forget everything else”.

Quartz Reef was born as the Central Otago wine industry began to bloom - from its inception they have championed a philosophy of biodynamics and organics. As a team they work in harmony with nature to create sensory wines and experiences that capture the purest expressions of their place.

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  • Pinot Noir

  • Pinot Gris

  • Methode Traditonelle 

  • Chardonnay

  • Rosé

Cromwell Basin

SCOTT BASE VINEYARD

Scott Base Vineyard is uniquely positioned on an elevated hillside with stunning views of the Pisa Range, Cromwell and Lake Dunstan. The tasting room is a cosy and relaxed venue where you can enjoy award-winning wines from Scott Base, the Scott's Marlborough vineyards, and Moa Beer. The single vineyard wine range is carefully crafted to hero that distinctly Central Otago flavour.  Each vintage may only come in limited quantities, but every bottle is packed with the experience and enthusiasm that comes from many years of winemaking.

 

  • Methode Traditionelle

  • Chardonnay

  • Rosé

  • Pinot Noir

  • Sauvignon Blanc

Cromwell Basin

STEWART TOWN VINEYARD

Stewart Town Vineyard produces the Bounder Pinot Noir.  Located in Bannockburn, the beautiful boutique vineyard is owned and operated by Kerry Stainton-Herbert and Doug Herbert.Stewart Town Vineyard was first planted on the schist, mineral rich slopes of Bannockburn's original gold mining area in 2009.  Situated above the historic Stewart Town gold sluicing's, the award winning vineyard is open for tastings to those who love exquisite Central Otago Pinot Noir.

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  • The Bounder Pinot Noir

Alexandra Basin

THYME HILL VINEYARD

Thyme Hill Vineyard was established in the mid 1990's, and was the first vineyard in the region to grow Merlot grapes.  The vineyard is on 6 ha of land in a beautiful setting, north facing slopes providing stunning views of Leaning Rock and the Dunstan Range. Surrounding the vineyard is the landscape so unique to Alexandra, the purple thyme, punctuated by schist rocky outcrops.

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  • Merlot

Alexandra Basin

THREE MINERS VINEYARD

Three Miners is a 19 hectare estate owned by Paul and Kirstin Wright, situated in Earnscleugh between Alexandra and Clyde. Gold was first discovered in the area in the 1860s and hundreds of miners panned the gold bearing gravels that border Three Miners Vineyard. The wines take their names from Central Otago’s goldmining history. Three Miners is a boutique family owned vineyard producing quality Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Rose, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Riesling.

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  • Gewürztraminer

  • Riesling

  • Pinot Gris

  • Rosé

  • Pinot Noir

Cromwell Basin

TE KANO ESTATE

Situated on the slopes above their Northburn vineyard grows an ancient Kōwhai tree.  Te Kano's philosophy stem's from this tree, "a restorative and regenerative approach to agriculture and a focus on leaving the land better than they found it."

Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Rose, and Pinot Noir are grown over their 4 vineyards and are best discovered taking in the mighty view from their Bannockburn hub.

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  • Chardonnay

  • Sauvignon Blanc

  • Pinot Noir

  • Pinot Gris

  • Riesling

  • Rosé

Cromwell Basin

WOOING TREE VINEYARD

Award winning Wooing Tree is a family owned single vineyard site in the town of Cromwell. Wooing Tree specialises in Pinot Noir, Rosé, Blondie (made from Pinot Noir) and Chardonnay. 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.

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  • Rosé

  • Pinot Gris

  • Chardonnay

  • Gewürztraminer

  • Pinot Noir

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