Central Otago wine region

Last updated

Central Otago
Wine region
RipponVineyard.jpg
Rippon vineyard by Lake Wānaka, Central Otago
Type Geographical Indication
Year established2018
CountryNew Zealand
Sub-regionsBannockburn, Bendigo, Wānaka, Gibbston Valley, Cromwell, Alexandra
Size of planted vineyards1,956 hectares (4,830 acres)
Grapes produced Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris
No. of wineries133
CommentsData source: New Zealand Winegrowers, 2020 [1] [2]

The Central Otago wine region is a geographical indication in New Zealand's South Island, and the world's southernmost commercial wine growing region. [3] While Central Otago is best known for Pinot Noir, many white wine varieties are also popular. [4]

Contents

History of the wine region

Significant European occupation in this region started with the Otago Gold Rush in the 1860s. French immigrant gold miner Jean Desire Feraud soon started planting vines and embarking upon small-scale commercial wine production, even winning medals in Australian wine competitions. [5] Late in the nineteenth century, the New Zealand government hired Romeo Bragato to survey the country. While this early experimentation showed the wine-growing potential of the region, the wine industry did not survive for long on a commercial basis.

From the 1950s through to the late 1970s, there were many small-scale trial plantings of vines by private individuals and under the auspices of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture. By 1980 enough experience and confidence had been gained for commercial plantings to start.

Central Otago annual harvest (1994–2020), in thousand tonnes of grapes crushed.
Sources: Otago Daily Times , New Zealand Winegrowers annual reports. [6] [2]

Vineyard planting and production remained modest until the middle of the 1990s when the industry began to expand rapidly. In 1996 there were just 11 wineries in the Central Otago region, according to New Zealand Winegrowers, accounting for 4.6% of the national total. By 2020 this had risen to 133 wineries and 18.5%. Over the same period, the area planted with vines rose from 92 to 1,930 hectares, a more-than twentyfold increase. Reflecting this rapid expansion, the long lead-time for planting to come into production, and the focus in Central Otago on quality wines rather than bulk wines, actual wine production accounted for only 0.5% (376 tonnes) of the New Zealand total in 1996, increasing to 3.0% (11,868 tonnes) in 2019.

Climate and soil

Alexandra
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
50
 
 
25
11
 
 
24
 
 
25
10
 
 
29
 
 
22
7
 
 
22
 
 
18
4
 
 
27
 
 
14
2
 
 
32
 
 
9
−2
 
 
24
 
 
8
−2
 
 
18
 
 
13
−1
 
 
21
 
 
16
2
 
 
29
 
 
19
4
 
 
31
 
 
21
7
 
 
45
 
 
23
9
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: NIWA. [7] [8]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
2
 
 
77
51
 
 
0.9
 
 
77
50
 
 
1.1
 
 
72
45
 
 
0.9
 
 
64
39
 
 
1.1
 
 
56
35
 
 
1.2
 
 
48
29
 
 
1
 
 
47
28
 
 
0.7
 
 
55
31
 
 
0.8
 
 
62
36
 
 
1.1
 
 
66
40
 
 
1.2
 
 
70
44
 
 
1.8
 
 
74
49
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

At around 300 metres (980 ft) elevation, Central Otago's vineyards are protected from New Zealand's characteristic maritime climate by high mountains up to 3,700 metres (12,100 ft) high. They thus have the only true continental climate zone in the country, with large daily and seasonal temperature extremes. Rainfall averages around 375–600 millimetres (14.8–23.6 in): summer is hot and relatively dry, and often accompanied by the Nor'wester foehn wind; autumn is short, cool and sunny; and winter is cold, with substantial falls of snow. Heavy frosts are common throughout winter and, indeed, frost can occur at any time between March and November. One of Central Otago's warmest wine growing areas can be found just north of the Lowburn Inlet area.

The climatic contrast between Central Otago and the more humid, warmer wine regions of the North Island can be illustrated by the difference in the timing of the grape harvest. In the more northerly vineyards, picking generally takes place in late February or early March, while in Central Otago the harvest begins in mid to late April a difference of some six to seven weeks.

The structure of the soil also differs considerably from other wine growing regions of the country, with heavy deposits of rough-edged mica and other metamorphic schists in silt loams. This soil drains easily, and given that most vineyards are positioned on hillside slopes, artificial irrigation is generally essential.

Central Otago's wines

Pinot noir from Central Otago. Hinton central otago Pinot.jpg
Pinot noir from Central Otago.

Pinot noir is the leading grape variety in Central Otago, estimated to account for some 70% of plantings. The other 30% of production comes from Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Pinot gris, and Gewürztraminer. Sparkling wine is made in the traditional style from Pinot noir and Chardonnay grapes.

Sub-regions

The Central Otago wine region is broken into multiple sub-regions, each with its own climate and characteristics.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chardonnay</span> Variety of grape mainly used to make wine

Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand. For new and developing wine regions, growing Chardonnay is seen as a 'rite of passage' and an easy entry into the international wine market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean wine</span> Wine making in Chile

Chile has a long history in the production of wine, with roots dating back to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors introduced Vitis vinifera vines to the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, and Franc were introduced. During the early 1980s, the Chilean wine industry underwent a renaissance with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. This led to a rapid growth in exports as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries in Chile rose from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grüner Veltliner</span> Variety of grape

Grüner VeltlinerGerman:[ˈɡʁyːnɐfɛltˈliːnɐ] ) is a white wine grape variety grown primarily in Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The leaves of the grape vine are five-lobed with bunches that are long but compact, and deep green grapes that ripen in mid-late October in the Northern Hemisphere.

Central Otago is an area located in the inland part of the Otago region in the South Island of New Zealand. The motto for the area is "A World of Difference".

Two Paddocks is a wine producer based in Central Otago, New Zealand. It is owned and operated by actor Sam Neill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentine wine</span> Fifth largest producer of wine in the world

Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world. Argentine wine, as with some aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, vine cuttings were brought to Santiago del Estero in 1557, and the cultivation of the grape and wine production stretched first to neighboring regions, and then to other parts of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand wine</span> Wine making in New Zealand

New Zealand wine is produced in several of its distinct winegrowing regions. As an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand has a largely maritime climate, although its elongated geography produces considerable regional variation from north to south. Like many other New World wines, New Zealand wine is usually produced and labelled as single varietal wines, or if blended, winemakers list the varietal components on the label. New Zealand is best known for its Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and more recently its dense, concentrated Pinot Noir from Marlborough, Martinborough and Central Otago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington wine</span> Wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington

Washington wine is a wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington. Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine. By 2017, the state had over 55,000 acres (220 km2) of vineyards, a harvest of 229,000 short tons (208,000 t) of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 940+ wineries located in the state. While there are some viticultural activities in the cooler, wetter western half of the state, the majority (99.9%) of wine grape production takes place in the shrub-steppe eastern half. The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches (200 mm) of annual rain fall, making irrigation and water rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry. Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours and consistent temperatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarras</span> Village in Otago, New Zealand

Tarras is a small farming settlement in Central Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendocino County wine</span>

The Mendocino County wine is an appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Mendocino County, California. The region is part of the larger North Coast AVA and one of California's largest and most climatically diverse wine growing regions. Mendocino County is one of the northernmost commercial wine grape regions in the state with two distinct climate zones separated by the Mendocino Range. Ten American Viticultural Areas have been designated within Mendocino County. Mendocino is one of the leading wine growing regions for organically produced wine grapes. Nearly 25% of the acreage in Mendocino County is grown organically. In 2004, the residents of the county voted to become the first GMO-free county in the United States in an initiative that was supported by many of the county's largest wineries. The county's widespread focus on organic viticulture has inspired journalists to describe it as "California's organic wine Mecca".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoma County wine</span> Wine made in Sonoma County, California

Sonoma County wine is wine made in Sonoma County, California, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian River Valley AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California

The Russian River Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Sonoma County, California. Centered on the Russian River, the Russian River Valley AVA accounts for about one-sixth of the total planted vineyard acreage in Sonoma County. The appellation was granted AVA status in 1983 and enlarged in 2005. The area generally lies between Sebastopol and Santa Rosa in the south, and Forestville and Healdsburg in the north. The Russian River Valley has a characteristically cool climate, heavily affected by fog generated by the valley's proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The area is known for its success with cool climate varietals, notably Pinot noir and Chardonnay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian wine</span> The wine industry in the state of South Australia

The South Australian wine industry is responsible for more than half the production of all Australian wine. South Australia has a vast diversity in geography and climate which allows the state to be able to produce a range of grape varieties–from the cool climate Riesling variety in the Clare Valley wine region to the big, full bodied Shiraz wines of the Barossa Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalan wine</span>

Catalan wines are those that are produced in the wine regions of Catalonia. Occasionally, the appellation is applied to some French wine made in the Catalan region of Roussillon and neighboring areas, also known as Northern Catalonia or the Pays catalans. The city of Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and despite not being in a wine region, it is the focal point of the Catalan wine industry: a primary consumer market, its port provides export functions and a source of financial resources and investment. The Penedès is the largest wine-making region in Catalonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah wine</span> Wine made from grapes grown in Utah, United States

Utah wine is made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Utah. Wine production in Utah from grapes grown there has increased steadily since 2018, despite stringent government restrictions and regulations regarding alcohol consumption and production in the state. There are no designated American Viticultural Areas in Utah.

Foris Vineyards Winery is an American winery located near Cave Junction, Oregon in the Illinois Valley region of the Rogue Valley AVA of Southern Oregon. As one of Oregon's pioneering grape growers, Ted Gerber planted his first vineyard in 1974. For 15 years, Gerber provided fruit to other winemakers, until 1986 when the winery was founded by Ted and Meri Gerber and the Foris label was launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Scotia wine</span> Canadian wine produced in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia wine is Canadian wine produced in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia's wineries are primarily organized under the Wine Association of Nova Scotia, though not all wineries are members. The industry began in the late 1970s with the original Grand Pré Winery in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bannockburn, New Zealand</span> Town in Otago, New Zealand

Bannockburn is a small historic gold mining town located outside of Cromwell in Central Otago, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlborough wine region</span> New Zealands largest wine region

The Marlborough wine region is by far New Zealand's largest, accounting for three quarters of the country's wine production, 70% of its vineyard area and 85% of its wine exports. A Geographical Indication in the north-east of the South Island, it covers the entire Marlborough District and the Kaikōura District of the Canterbury Region, but in practice the vineyards are concentrated around the Blenheim and Seddon townships. Internationally, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is recognised as world class; wine writers such as Oz Clarke and George Taber have described it as the best in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury wine region</span> Wine region in New Zealand

The Canterbury wine region is a New Zealand wine region and geographical indication that covers wine made anywhere within the Canterbury Region excluding the Kaikōura District, an area of some 44,500 square kilometres (17,200 sq mi) in the South Island.

References

  1. "New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Report". New Zealand Winegrowers. 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 "New Zealand Wine: Statistics & Reports". New Zealand Winegrowers . Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  3. "Geographical Indications Register: Central Otago". Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  4. "New Zealand Winegrowers Labelling Guide 22nd Edition August 2013" (PDF). New Zealand Wine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  5. Cooper 1993, p. 174.
  6. "Otago's bumper wine harvest". Otago Daily Times . 21 May 2007. p. 2.
  7. Macara, G. R. (2015). "The climate and weather of Otago". Science and Technology Series. No. 67 (3 ed.). NIWA. p. 44. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  8. "Climate data and activities". NIWA. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Central Otago Vineyards & Wineries". Central Otago Wine Association (COWA). Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 24 Aug 2010.

Bibliography