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The country may be famous for Sauvignon Blanc, but it also produces great reds.

There are Pinot Noirs and Pinot Noirs. There’s nothing whatsoever wrong with examples that perfectly express their local region but burgundy lovers may be seeking better-value closer alternatives to the prototype. Above, Rippon’s vineyard overlooking Lake Wānaka in Central Otago, New Zealand. A rather shorter version of this article is published by the Financial Times.

First stop on a recent road tour around some of New Zealand’s key winemaking regions is Central Otago where Santana Minerals’ goldmine is throwing a shadow over this beautiful wine region.

Once a year, an independent jury selects twelve outstanding Pinot Noirs from Central Otago — a cross-section of vintage and region. Falstaff has taken a closer look at the selection and presents the highlights of the Central Dozen 2023.

The Australia and New Zealand roadshow kicked off last week in London, travelled to Edinburgh and finishes off in Dublin on Tuesday. Over 1,000 wines from 250 wineries were shown with an incredible 38 winemakers pouring wines, despite the busy harvests back home.

While Marlborough Savvy B snagged our palates and ids with its sassy panache, Central Otago Pinot Noir is poised to capture our souls and brains with its cerebral elegance. In lieu of bikinis and sunshine, we have cashmere wraps, sunset views, a dog-eared copy of The Germinal. Cue the Nico soundtrack.

A selection of Central Otago Pinot Noir from 2023

The history of Pinot Noir in New Zealand is one of feast and famine, dominance and disaster.

It might surprise many to learn that Pinot Noir was, in fact, the dominant red grape variety in New Zealand from the 1880s through the early part of the 20th century. Of course, the wine industry at that time was tiny, little more than a cottage enterprise of farmers growing grapes alongside other crops and livestock.

As part of the Central Otago Spring Release event, the four wine writers present—Jane Skilton MW, John Saker, Dave Brookes and myself—were treated to a masterclass with four of the region’s pre-eminent winemakers.

Our New World specialist, Roger Jones, continues his tales from New Zealand. This time, he delves into the story of Central Otago, an area first brought to the UK's attention by the bold 'New World' Pinot Noir some 20 years ago. Today, the region not only produces Pinot Noir with poise and fresh, focused elegance but also magical white wines. On his recent visit to the region he met up with the key players, tasted some of the exciting new white wines and attended an outstanding celebration of wine and food called Roam.

There’s no holding back New Zealand pinot noir with some sensational wines in this tasting, says MARY-THÉRÈSE BLAIR.

One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive to Otago on the South Island is The Remarkables—a towering saw-toothed mountain range along the edge of Lake Wakatipu that is one of few in the world that runs directly north to south. These dramatic peaks set a strong tone for a wine country getaway in Central Otago, which is prized for its award-winning wines. “Pinot Noir is by far the most well-known variety here,” Ilias Hamzaoui says, who is the restaurant & bar manager at Rosewood Matakauri.

Central Otago's organic wine movement, spearheaded by Central Otago Winegrowers Association (COWA), has reached an important milestone: 30% of the region's vineyard area is now certified organic, the highest proportion in Aotearoa New Zealand.

A major wine auction this Labour weekend will see some of the world's most prestigious wines go under the hammer. It will include around 300 auction lots with some individual bottles expected to sell for up to $50,000.

One of the features of the weekend is special charity wine lots for the Central Otago Pinot Noir Charitable Trust.

McArthur Ridge’s Southern Tor is racking up global awards.

It was ironic that when winemaker Matt Connell heard a Pinot Noir he’d made was named as the best in the world at a prestigious competition, he couldn’t actually toast the incredible achievement with a glass of the triumphant red.

Growing up on a Taranaki dairy farm, Nina Downer was accustomed to the isolated and repetitive nature of her parents’ work, milking at dawn 365 days of the year.

Idealog sits down with Pip Clarke, the award-winning Head Winemaker from Mount Michael Wines, to talk about what it is like being one of the few females in her role and what goes in the daily life of someone creating a delicacy.

It’s a blue-skied, post-frost Central Otago morning as Owen Calvert drives through Bendigo and up to Tarras.

Kinross on the outskirts of Queenstown has been judged as having the country's best cellar door experience. The Gibbston Valley winery has taken out the first-ever Qualmark New Zealand Wine Tourism Award. Kinross chief executive Nicky Sygrove says she is proud of her team's efforts to secure such recognition. "Providing a world-class guest experience is at the core of everything we do," she says.

Beyond the bubble of Queenstown, this area offers the kinds of adventures you can truly appreciate only by slowing down.

A Master of Wine shares essential sips from a region that continues to make New Zealand wine globally renowned.
Central Otago Pinot Noir stands alongside Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc as New Zealand’s great vinous success story.

Despite being a “younger” wine region — its modern viticultural history dating back to the pioneers of the early 1980s like Alan Brady, Anne Pinckney and the late Rolfe Mill — it has risen rapidly to establish itself internationally as the region for premium NZ pinot noir.

The world’s most southerly commercial vine-growing region, Central Otago produces a pinot noir considered among the finest on earth.

Decanter World Wine Awards 2024 results have been published today (19 June), showing all medal winners in this year’s competition.

‘Picture yourself in the biggest wine shelf of the world, and next to you there are the best wine experts, holding your hand and helping you to make the best decision possible,’ described wine consultant and judge Agnes Csiba Herczeg, encapsulating the significance of Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) results.

Crisp, tangy sauvignon blanc is the wine most often associated with New Zealand, but in the gorgeous Central Otago Valley, on the lower half of Te Waipounamu (the Maori name for the South Island), pinot noir grows to near-perfection. Here are must-visit pinot producers for four types of travelers to the picturesque region.

Following invites from a number of notable Americans who visited Coxs’ Vineyard this past summer, co-owner Simon Cox is about to showcase his premium Gibbston wine in the States.

Felton Road is the Real Review Winery of the Year New Zealand for 2024.

Last year Felton Road was third, in 2022 fifth, in 2021 third, in 2020 fourth, in 2019 third, and in 2018 sixth. In seven years, its lowest ranking was sixth. I cannot think of a more deserving winery occupying the top slot. Well done, proprietor Nigel Greening and chief winemaker Blair Walter.

Over 25 years ago, Doug Cox took a leap of faith. He purchased land in Gibbston and joined a small group of like-minded individuals prepared to try growing Pinot Noir.

Two decades later, Simon Cox and Leah Seifert stepped into his shoes, driven by a shared passion and deep respect for Doug Coxs' legacy. They took over his contract grape-growing business and, with unwavering dedication, laid the foundation of Coxs' Vineyard.

There’s a new kid on the winemaking block in the Alexandra Basin.
Wild Irishman Wines — the former Weaver Estate winery — has begun processing fruit from the 2024 vintage.

Central Otago wine company Te Kano Estate takes out the Agri-Science award at the Farm Environment Awards. "Guided by a strong vision that places equal importance on life, land, and legacy."

The 2024 harvest’s off to a grape start at Gibbston Valley Winery (GVW).
Chief winemaker Christopher Keys says they started picking at the end of last month — it’s the first time in six years they’ve made that call, and just the second time in the 18 years he’s been at GVW they’ve gone so early.

As the grape harvest begins this month, Central Otago is the place to be for wine industry interns, here to learn about New Zealand’s wine culture.

Two of New Zealand’s leading wine and spirits companies have combined their expertise to create two of the country’s first vintage vermouths.

Wine producer and renowned actor Sam Neill focuses on two varieties: pinot noir and riesling. Pinot noir is a logical choice. It is Central Otago’s star turn both in quality and quantity. Exporting Central Otago pinot noir may not be as easy as watching the phone and waiting for it to ring but it is not far away.

Pernod Ricard Winemakers has launched Aces & Arrows, an innovative wine brand with a different story and winemaker behind each wine. This release includes a 2022 Riverland Vermentino, 2020 Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner, 2022 Central Otago Pinot Noir and 2019 Barossa Valley Grenache.

“When you drink a Valli wine you are enjoying more than just a wine, you are experiencing a place,” says Grant Taylor, founder and winemaker.

Bragato Research Institute drives New Zealand’s grape and wine research, innovation and extension so that New Zealand remains renowned for its exceptional wine. As Bragato Research Institute (BRI) grows and matures, our Board of Directors has evolved too. During 2023, Directors Dr Di McCarthy and Prof Charlie Eason both stood down, and we now welcome three new Directors to the BRI Board; Emma Taylor, James Dicey, and Greg Mann.

Celebrated Otago winemaker Grant Taylor is toasting his latest venture, opening the Valli Wine Bar in Kurow.
And with a move to the nearby Hakataramea Valley early next year, Mr Taylor is also looking forward to spending time behind the bar in the town’s former post office.

Sparkling wine is no longer tethered to formality and festivities, with consumers increasingly popping the cork for a quiet drink after work or a wine match with a casual dinner.

Pernod Ricard's sparkling production in Marlborough has almost doubled in the past five years, with some Sauvignon Blanc blocks now being redeveloped to help fill demand.

Restaurant wine lists tend to lump bottlings into red and white sections, but seasoned drinkers will readily argue that merely describing a wine as “red” is laughable in its vagary. A garnet-hued Nebbiolo from Italy’s Barolo region offers a wildly different drinking experience than, say, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This is all to say: The red wine category is vast, and you could spend a lifetime drinking through it and still discover new varietals and flavor profiles.

At 47 years of age Nicholas Paris has achieved far more than most of us hope to achieve in a lifetime.

With the help of his New Zealand-born father Stanley and brother Alan, he has helped restore an historic stone winery dating back to the 1870s and built two luxury cottages and an underground barrel cellar. The Monte Christo winery in Clyde, Central Otago, is now open for business.

In a groundbreaking moment for New Zealand's culinary scene, Amisfield's Executive Chef, Vaughan Mabee, has secured the 44th position in the prestigious Top 100 Best Chef Awards.

This month-long event promises a delectable journey through specially created dishes at participating venues, accompanied by a series of exciting food and beverage-focused events.

For wine enthusiasts and lovers of Central Otago's finest vintages, mark your calendars because an event you won't want to miss is just around the corner.

Adrenalin rushes aside, New Zealand's Central Otago region has some of the best cool-climate pinot noirs on the planet.

The launch celebrates the region’s favourable climate and winemaking expertise.

There are a few images that spring to mind when you picture the vastness and beauty of Central Otago. Rocky outcrops. Fast-flowing rivers. Weathered plains. Expansive blue skies. All vistas which are best appreciated with a glass of wine in hand.