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Central Otago.

The wine region at the heart of Te Waipounamu.

Alan Brady: Central Otago's Pinot Noir Pioneer at 90

NZ Winegrower

Having founded three wineries, sold two, and put the 21st vintage of Wild Irishman into barrel, Central Otago winemaking pioneer Alan Brady could choose to put his feet up.

Central Otago wine: How Pinot Noir put region on global map

NZ Herald

Once dismissed as too cold and remote, Central Otago now commands the global stage, with 81% of its plantings in Pinot Noir. Joelle Thompson explores how the region pulled off such swift success.

There's a reason Central Otago and Pinot Noir go hand in hand.

The first vines went into Central Otago's soil in the 1860s. But it took over a century for a new generation of wine pioneers in the 1970s and '80s to see what this place could really do: high altitude, dry summers, cool nights, mineral-rich soils, built for one grape.

By 1987, Gibbston Valley released the region's first commercial Pinot Noir.

Today, Central Otago is Pinot Noir.

Now's as good a time as any to enjoy a glass and think about the people who took the chance on growing it here. Happy International Pinot Noir Day 🍷

#centralotagopinot #internationalpinotnoirday #pinotcentral

Central Wine Retreat 2026, wrapped🍷

21 trade guests, 22 wineries and a LOT of wine.

We walked the vines, tasted our way through the subregions, tackled Bendigo by 4WD, biked to Bannockburn. Not bad for 48 hours.

Thank you to the wineries who opened their doors, poured their wines and shared their stories. And to our guests, thanks for making the trip and getting stuck into our corner of the world, Central Otago.

Until next time.

#pinotcentral #centralwineretreat

@tekanoestate @carrick_nz @wooingtree @amisfieldvineyard @akaruawines @burncottagevineyard @dicey.nz @domainethomsonwines @gibbstonvalley @maudewines @moko.hills @montechristowinery @morawinesandartisankitchen @mtdifficulty @nevisbluffwinesltd @peregrinewines @prophetsrock @pyramidvalleyvineyards @quartzreefwines @ripponvineyard @twopaddocks @valliwine

Sold out in year one. Back for round two. 🍷

This October, PURE POURS returns to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, bringing together over 20 of Central Otago's most exciting producers for roaming tastings across all three cities.

Central Otago is a region shaped by extremes - crisp mountain air, dramatic alpine landscapes, scorching summers and freezing winters. That intensity carries straight into the glass, and it's what's built this region's reputation for Pinot Noir around the world.

Your ticket gets you into the room to taste it all: aromatic whites, textured Chardonnays, méthode traditionnelle sparkling, and the powerful, perfumed Pinot Noirs Central Otago does best.

🍷 Sydney - Saturday 17 October, The International
🍷 Melbourne - Monday 19 October, Victoria by Farmer's Daughters
🍷 Brisbane - Tuesday 20 October, The Lodge, James Street

Tickets on sale now. Link in bio.

@akaruawines
@amisfieldvineyard
@burncottagevineyard
@carrick_nz
@coalpitwine
@dicey.nz
@domainerewa
@domainethomsonwines
@maudewines
@mcarthurridgewine
@moko.hills
@montechristowinery
@morawinesandartisankitchen
@mountedwardwinery
@quartzreefwines
@prophetsrock
@ripponvineyard
@rockburnwines
@tekanoestate
@valliwine
@wild_irishman_wines
@wooingtree

A first for the region! This year's Young Winemaker and Young Viticulturist competitions were celebrated together, with Bannockburn Hall bringing competitors, judges, sponsors and supporters from across the wine industry under one roof.

Congratulations to this year's winners:

🏆 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year
1st - Lisa Fromont, Te Kano (Central Otago Young Winemaker of the Year)
2nd - Joshua Irving, Lincoln University (North Canterbury Young Winemaker of the Year)
3rd - Matt O'Connor, Prophet's Rock

🏆 Ormond Nurseries Central Otago Young Viticulturist of the Year
1st - Matthew Kerruish, Vinewise Viticulture
2nd - Braxton Benseman, Mt Difficulty
3rd - Chavi Cleworth, Carrick

And to every competitor who took part, congratulations. You should all be incredibly proud of what you've achieved.

Here's to the next generation of winemakers and viticulturists! 🍇🥂

Central Otago has always been a place where great wine and great food go hand in hand. It's wonderful to see that reflected in the restaurants recognised by New Zealand's inaugural MICHELIN Guide.

Congratulations to Amisfield, Kika, Rātā, Sherwood and Essence at ROKI Collection on earning MICHELIN Stars, and to all of the Central Otago restaurants and hospitality businesses featured in the guide.

Together, our wineries, restaurants, chefs, growers and producers create experiences that give people another reason to visit, stay a little longer and discover what makes this part of New Zealand so special.

#MICHELIN #centralotago #FoodAndWine

Great recognition for the producers and people of Central Otago in The Real Review Top Wineries of New Zealand 2026 🍷

Felton Road, Prophet’s Rock and Quartz Reef were all named among the country’s top five wineries, an outstanding result for the region.

Special congratulations to Rudi Bauer, named Vigneron of the Year, and to members Jascha Oldham-Selak and Sanne Witteveen of Vilaura, who received the Rising Star of the Year award.

Burn Cottage was awarded Red Wine of the Year for the Sabines Selection Pinot Noir 2022, while Cloudy Bay received Sparkling Wine of the Year for the Pelorus Brut Chardonnay Pinot Noir Vintage 2013.

A brilliant acknowledgement of the wines and winemakers continuing to push Central Otago and New Zealand wine forward. Cheers to that!

#NZWine #CentralOtagoWine #TheRealReview

THE CENTRAL DOZEN - 2023 VINTAGE

As the 2024 judging draws near, we're reflecting on the 2023 dozen – a curated case of Central Otago Pinot Noir.

Emma Jenkins MW:
"We blind tasted our way through 75 wines to a shortlist of 18 wines and then after thought-provoking discussion, whittled down the final dozen. Once again, we were keen not just to deliver the ‘shiniest’ wines, or a list of the usual suspects. Instead, we looked for wines that reflected the essence of the 2023 season, a year that highlighted the thrill that Pinot Noir being grown on the edge can bring – tension, minerality, structure, and vivid regional, subregional and site expression. "

The 2023 Central Dozen
• Akarua Pinot Noir
• Amisfield Breakneck Pinot Noir
• Brennan B2 Pinot Noir
• Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir
• Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 5
• Grasshopper Rock Earnscleugh Vineyard Pinot Noir
• Moko Hills Pinot Noir
• Monte Christo Central Otago Pinot Noir
• Peregrine Pinot Noir
• Pyramid Valley Snake’s Tongue Pinot Noir
• Quartz Reef Bendigo Pinot Noir
• Rippon 'Rippon' Mature Vine Pinot Noir

Spanning emerging producers to long-established wineries, with organic and regenerative practices well represented, this dozen reflects the technical and stylistic diversity of Central Otago Pinot Noir. Which ones have you tried? 🍷

Full details available in bio.

#centralotagowine #centraldozen #pinotcentral #pinotnoir

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Central Otago.

The wine region at the heart of Te Waipounamu.

Alan Brady: Central Otago's Pinot Noir Pioneer at 90

Central Otago wine: How Pinot Noir put region on global map

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