![]() |
WWW.OTAGOWINE.COM
CENTRAL OTAGO WINE CELLAR
Subscribe to our free newsletter for latest, news, new releases, events and happenings. TOP PICKS Olssens of Bannockburn Jackson Barry Pinot Noir 2007 Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2006 Roaring Meg Pinot Noir 2007 Coal Pit Cinquante Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Valli Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 Pisa Range Estate Black Poplar Pinot Noir 2006 Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2006 NEW RELEASES FOR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER Olssens of Bannockburn Jackson Barry Pinot Noir 2007 Mount Michael Bessie's Block Pinot Noir 2007 Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Freefall Pinot Noir 2007 van Asch Pinot Noir 2006 Gibbston Valley Blanc de Pinot Noir 2008 Felton Road 2007 Pinot Noirs Felton Road Chardonnay 2007 Richardson Wines Pinot Noir 2006 Roaring Meg Pinot Noir 2007 Surveyor Thomson Pinot Noir 2005 Coal Pit Sauvignon Blanc and many more click here for a full list of recent releases
CENTRAL OTAGO WINE CHAMPION AT ROMEO BRAGATO WINE AWARDS 2008
A Central Otago Pinot Noir has taken top honours at this year's Romeo Bragato Wine Awards held in Christchurch, winning the prestigious Bragato Trophy for Champion Wine of Show.
Olssens Garden Vineyard produced the winning Olssens Jackson Barry Pinot Noir 2007, which was also awarded the Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy and Champion Pinot Noir. The unique Awards recognise the importance of the grapegrowing process and celebrates viticultural excellence, so the awards go to the viticulturalist. "The Central Otago region consistently produces top quality Pinot Noir, so it's no surprise that the area has produced this year's Champion Wine of Show," said Chairman of judges, Larry McKenna. The Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy has particular significance in Central Otago in remembering one of the pioneering winemakers in the region, Mike Wolter. It was carved by another wine pioneer, the late Rolfe Mills, of Rippon Vineyard.
Renowned New Zealand winemaker Claire Mulholland has been appointed by Amisfield Wine Company.
Congratulations to all those who moved on our Wild Earth Pinot Noir offering last month - it sold out very quickly following all of the international accolades for this wine. We have saved the last few bottles for our Serious Cellar Selection - which also has some other hard-to-get premium labels from Central Otago (including Felton Road) and throughout New Zealand. Be in quick! And for those wanting some top wines in a lower price bracket, see our HOT DEAL on Roaring Meg Pinot Noir 2007, which just won a gold medal at the London International Wine Challenge. Keep warm.... WILD EARTH BEST IN WORLD ?
18 June 2008 Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 , which retails for only NZ$36.95 at otagowine.com, can arguably be sald to be best Pinot Noir in the world having just taken 4 trophies including International Pinot Noir Trophy at the most prestigious wine event of the year, the International Wine Challenge in London. The IWC web site lists the following trophies for this wine from its 2008 competition: Gibbston Valley Reserve Pinot Noir 2000 and Bald Hills Pinot Noir 2005 have both previously won the IWC trophy for Best International Pinot Noir . ...read the full story and find out more about ordering
WILD EARTH WINES TAKES TROPHY IN WORLD'S LARGEST WINE SHOW
RECORD VINTAGE 6 June 2008: Pruning is happening across the Central Otago region now the grapes are in. The region has produced a record vintage in 2008 - with estimates of between 8000 and 10,000 tonnes of grapes harvested, more than double the previous biggest vintage in 2006. New Zealand Winegrowers official statistics for the 2006 vintage were 4612 tonnes, and 3434 tonnes for 2007 - cool weather at flowering had resulted in poor fruit set and smaller berries last year. This year several new wineries came on stream producing their first commercial crops, and berry and bunch sizes across the region were generally bigger. Some winemakers have likened the vintage to that in 2003 which produced some very good wines. Rudi Bauer, from Quartz Reef, said there were yield variations across the region and expected those with lower yields would produce some very good wines. He estimated about 25% of the grapes produced had gone outside of the region.
PINOT CELEBRATION DATES CONFIRMED
RIPPON GETS RATED
ORGANICS FOR CENTRAL OTAGO Central Otago Winegrowers Association has been awarded a major grant from Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) to advance the region in developing organic viticulture. This is the first of its kind for viticulture in New Zealand. Working in conjunction with Organic Winegrowers of New Zealand (OWNZ) the programme will act as a pilot project that can be replicated in other winegrowing regions throughout the country and aims to be an inspiration to the wider New Zealand viticulture industry. Martin Anderson president of the Central Otago Winegrowers Association said the programme was important to ensure the quality and soil health of the region is maintained. "The future of our region and the products we produce is reliant on the health of our lands and waterways, we are taking a considerable step in the right direction to protect the future generations of land users," he said. It is intended a number of vineyards will sign up to the programme by the end of 2008, 50% by 2010 and the majority by 2015.
PISA RANGE SHORTLISTED
WINERY AIDS SADDLEBACK RECOVERY
SYDNEY PINOT NOIR TROPHY FOR GIBBSTON HIGHGATE PINOT NOIR March 5th 2008: The Sydney International Wine Competition is one of the few wine competitions in the world to award trophies to wine for their compatibility with food. The Air Sea Global Perpetual Trophy for Best Pinot Noir of the Competition was awarded to Gibbston Highgate Estate ‘Soultaker’ Pinot Noir 2006.
HARVEST BEGINS IN CENTRAL OTAGO
March 5th 2008:The grape harvest began at Bendigo today with the first pinot noir grapes brought in for making methode traditionelle at Quartz Reef winery in Cromwell.
COMING EVENTS CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIRS POPULAR CHOICE 6th December 2007
AIR NZ WINE AWARDS 2007 TROPHY WINNERS 26th November 2007:
OLSSENS TAKE WINESTATE TROPHY
26th November 2007: Also this weekend the Winestate Magazine Wine Awards were announced in Australia, where Olssen's of Bannockburn Slapjack Creek Pinot Noir 2005 won the Winestate Pinot Noir Wine of the Year 2007.
AIR NZ WINE AWARDS 2007
13th November 2007:
CUISINE WINE TASTING: 17th October 2007:
"New kid on the block" - Judge Rock, a small family winery from Alexandra has leapt into the limelight with five stars - Best Buy in Cuisine magazines NZ Pinot Noir tasting this month! At $29.95 Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2006 is a great value pinot - "...this elegant wine by winemaker Carol Bunn is built around a good core of authentic Pinot Noir flavours of earth, cherry and spice."
See our SERIOUS CELLAR NZ PINOT NOIR SELECTION - and our TOP PICKS
CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR NAMED BEST IN THE WORLD
The following week at a prestigious gathering at the Grosvenor Hotel in London’s Park Lane, the IWC announced their top 9 Champion awards to the very best wines in the 2007 competition as well as other industry awards. Earlier in this competition, as judges tasted and assessed the 9,358 wines that had been submitted, in what has become the world’s largest blind tasting, Bald Hills Pinot Noir 2005 had been named a regional winner with the New Zealand South Island Pinot Noir Trophy. It was also one of 19 international award winners with the International Pinot Noir Trophy. However the ultimate accolade was announced during the awards ceremony where Bald Hills stole the limelight with their Pinot Noir being hailed as the International Wine Challenge 2007 Champion Red.
The final honour was still to come with the announcement of the IWC Planet Earth awards which have been introduced to reflect an important trend in consumer demand, as well as rewarding those who not only excel in winemaking but also put the planet at the heart of their wine making activity. Once again Bald Hills took centre stage and claimed their second champion title with the Planet Earth Sustainability Trophy Enquire for availability
SPRING IN CENTRALOTAGO
September 2007: Spring is here now although fresh snow on the mountains is keeping the air cool and crisp - a beautiful time of year in Central Otago where the fruit trees are starting to blossom and before the mad rush to Christmas. There are new releases of wines almost daily, we list so many labels now it is getting hard to keep up! We're starting to see the first of the 2007 white wines, too, including a new Riesling from Valli made from grapes from 25-year-old vines! (in some parts of this region grapes have been planted for a relatively long time).
BRAGATO WINE AWARDS Sept 2007: Central Otago pinot noirs were once again in the lineup with medals at the NZ Winegrowers Bragato Wine Awards held in Auckland recently.
Gold medals: CENTRAL OTAGO WINEMAKERS GUESTS IN OREGON:
July 2007:
Two Central Otago winemakers have gone to Oregon as guest speakers at the International Pinot Noir Celebration 2007. Grant Taylor (Valli) and Steve Davies (Carrick) will take part in three days of seminars, tastings, tours and one-of-a-kind meals with sixty international Pinot noir winemakers, all within the beautiful backdrop of Oregon wine country. Its international camaraderie has brought the IPNC much acclaim for its convivial "summer camp" spirit.
DEVINE PINOT NOIR MAKES INTERNATIONAL DEBUT
Devine Pinot Noir 2006 recently won a gold medal at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition. The competition attracted over 1000 entries from 21 countries. This was the first vintage made from this new label, and was made by Matt Evans.
RUN OF INTERNATIONAL TROPHIES FOR BALD HILLS
Small Central Otago Vineyard, Bald Hills, whose mission is to make wines which reflect the unique nature and aspect of its Bannockburn site, has won the International Pinot Noir Trophy New Zealand South Island for their Pinot Noir 2005 at the London based International Wine Challenge which announced results live at Vinexpo in Bordeaux on June 18. Boasting 9358 entries from around the globe the IWC claims to be the "biggest and best" blind tasting in the world. What sets the IWC apart is the number of times wines are tasted to earn their awards. Just 84 of these 9358 exemplary wines have distinguished themselves as deserving of an IWC trophy, less than 1% of all entries. Bald Hills Pinot Noir 2005 underwent at least four separate blind tastings by a panel of experienced judges before emerging the best of the coveted Gold Medal winners in its category and being awarded the Trophy. The same wine won the New Zealand Pinot Noir over £10 Trophy at the 2007 Decanter World Wine Awards , announced last month. The 2007 Decanter World Wine Awards saw a total of 7,642 wines evaluated from every major international winegrowing region over a week in April.It was the first time Bald Hills had entered their wines in these prestigious UK based competitions. The wine was made by well known Central Otago winemaker Grant Taylor, who has a string of national international trophies for pinot noirs he has made over the past decade..
[ Bald Hills wines ]
MICHAEL COOPER WINE ATLAS UPDATE ![]() Visiting Central Otago recently was New Zealand winewriter Michael Cooper, where he was researching and updating his Wine Atlas of New Zealand for re-release later this year. Pictured here he is discussing terroir with soil scientist and grower Roger Gibson, from Lowburn Ferry Vineyard. The Wine Atlas should be available for sale for Christmas here at www.otagowine.com CENTRAL OTAGO GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATOR: Local wine growers are moving to protect the integrity of the Central Otago wine producing region, now that it enjoys international renown for the quality of its wines.
![]() NEW LABEL: DEVINE WINES
De Vine Wines is a blend of three individuals, whose love of good wine and the Central Otago lifestyle is paramount.
Matt Evans winemaking career began in 1998 at Gibbston Valley where he assisted in creating over half a dozen award winning Central Otago labels and helping Gibbston Valley to amass more awards for Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Gris than any other producer in the country. During his 9 years of winemaking Matt has travelled the world extensively increasing winemaking skills and knowledge, mainly to Oregon, USA, to work in premium wineries. Matt is now on his 18th vintage of making high quality cool climate varietals. [ Click for more]
VINTAGE UPDATE: A long mild autumn has been welcomed by Central Otago winegrowers to end what has for many been a trying season. Harvest volumes for some are well down on last year's bumper crop, due mostly to cooler weather during the critical flowering stages in early summer, and some early season frost events.
CENTRAL OTAGO WINE STARS
Gold medals were also awarded to the following Central Otago wines: SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION 2007: Central Otago Wine Events Coming Up... The SIXTH Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration will be held Friday 25th and Saturday 26th January 2008.
NEW ZEALAND PINOT NOIRS TO TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM
"I would now without hesitation serve a Pinot Noir from New Zealand alongside, or even ahead of, a Pinot Noir from Burgundy" - OZ CLARKE
CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR CELEBRATION 2008 - PLANNING IS UNDERWAY - The SIXTH Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration is fast becoming a reality! If you enjoy good food, wine, like-minded people and amazing scenery then this event is for you.
In what has been described by world-renowned wine writer Jancis Robinson as "Surely the most relaxed pinotfest ever", the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration gathers Wine & Food enthusiasts from around the world for two days of fine cuisine, fun and exceptional wine. Friday 25th and Saturday 26th January 2008.
PBT Gibbston Harvest Festival PBT Gibbston Harvest Festival March 17th, 2006. 11am to 4pm - Waitiri Creek Winery, State Highway 6, Gibbston, Queenstown This event is a non-profit fundraiser with proceeds going to the Bruce Grant Trust. Music and fun for the whole family in a relaxed scenic atmosphere. There will be sixteen participating wineries and thirteen local restaurants. You are also welcome to bring your own picnic lunch to be enjoyed in the open air grounds. Fun and games for kids. Entry fee: Adults $10, plus $2 for tasting glass. Children gold coin donation. Public transport available. Tickets are available at In Touch Visitor Centre, Queenstown - cnr Shotover and Camp Streets, or online at www.gvwines.co.nz
PEREGRINE AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF SUCCESS:
Peregrine Winery in the Gibbston Valley has also been picked by the New York Post as one of five wineries in the world to visit. "The combination of location, the wines and interesting architecture make it cutting edge stuff," said marketing manager Greg Hay. The other four wineries listed were located in Spain, California and Chile. Peregrine's winery is modelled on the wings of the bird that are depicted in its label.
TROPHY FOR WOOING TREE PINOT NOIR 2005
Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2005, has won the Fairfax Media Champion Open Red Wine Trophy at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards held last weekend. The wine is the first vintage produced from the Wooing Tree Vineyard in Cromwell. The award follows a run of success for this wine which includes gold medals at both the Air New Zealand and the recent New Zealand International Wine Show. "In the last few months the wine has been consistently well reviewed, and this was the icing on the cake," said co-owner Stephen Farquharson. The wine was made by Carol Bunn, of Vinpro Winery in Cromwell.
![]() INTERNATIONAL GOLD FOR LOWBURN FERRY
![]() Lowburn Ferry Vineyard in Central Otago has gained international recognition with its 2005 Pinot Noir winning a gold medal at a prestigious wine show in Austria.
BURGUNDY EXCHANGE - Rogers report
This newsletter is somewhat over due and I have to take the blame. During September instead of working away on my computer keeping up to date with the Central Otago wine world in the post pruning/pre budburst lull I escaped for a month in France for a training exchange learing how it is that Burgundian's make their great wines....After the course I headed to the village of Ladoix-Serrigny to the Domaine of Capitain-Gagnerot - a domaine established over 200 hundred years and ago now on to its 7th generation family winemaker (Patrice Capitain) with the 8th currently in training. Read my full report here....(Burgundy Exchange) ![]() BURGUNDY EXCHANGE FOR CENTRAL OTAGO INDUSTRY
Heading off to Burgundy, France, this month for a taste of tradition and culture at the pinot noir capital are three Central Otago personalities: viticulturalist Nick Paulin, of Felton Rd Wines, Bannockburn, Rippon assistant wine maker Brett Reddington and Otago Polytechnic viticulture part-time lecturer Roger Gibson (also of Lowburn Ferry Vineyard and OTAGOWINE.COM).
PEREGRINE TRI-NATIONS SUCCESS
Peregrine Pinot Noir 2004 has added to its list of accolades winning the coveted trophy for top Pinot Noir in the Tri-Nations Wine Challenge held in Sydney recently. “This latest honour cements a consistent performance by the winery and our winemaker Peter Bartle, who has now won this particular award an unprecedented three years in a row, it’s an outstanding result for us,” said marketing manager Greg Hay. “We were delighted just to be selected as one of the finalists by New Zealand wine aficionado Bob Campbell let alone topping the entire field of tri-nation wines,” Mr Hay said. New Zealand, Australian and South African wines compete in the challenge. Whilst the 2004 is now sold out... “The good news is that already the 2005 Peregrine Pinot Noir is being picked as the best vintage the winery has produced,” Mr Hay said.
PISA RANGE ESTATE TRIUMPHS AT IWSC The Pisa Range Estate “Black Poplar Block” Pinot Noir 2003 was awarded GOLD (Best in Class) at the 2006 International Wine & Spirit Competition recently. The prestigious competition attracted record entries - almost 6000 entries from 73 countries. Only four gold medals (best in class) were awarded in the pinot noir category. Other Central Otago wines placed with silver medals included Mt Difficulty Pinot Noir, Carrick Pinot Noir, and Pisa Moorings Pinot Noir 2004. GIBBSTON VALLEY GOLD MEDALS Gibbston Valley Wines have scored a rare two gold medals in the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Challenge for their 2005 vintage Pinot Noirs. NEW LISTING: HAWKSHEAD
PINOT NOIR VINTAGE HELPS SEARCH & RESCUE
GRANT TAYLOR MOVES ON
Putting that behind him, Grant is looking forward to spending more time pruning in his own vineyard. NEW VINTAGE RECORD
Central Otago's 2006 vintage of 4,612 tonnes was up 220% on the previous two vintages - according to official statistics from the New Zealand Winegrowers survey. Nationwide, the harvest is up 11%, with a total 185,000 tonnes harvested. Central Otago represents about 2.5 percent of the national production. Harvest of Pinot Noir, New Zealand's second most exported style this year, increased by over 50 per cent, rebounding to expected levels with a larger harvest in central and southern regions. This is positive news as exports of Pinot Noir this year are growing at 56 per cent, the report said
The vintage is a new record for the industry, up 11 per cent on the previous mark of 166,000 tonnes set in 2004. This growth is a result of the 18 per cent increase in producing vineyard area developed over the same timeframe. The 2005 vintage was down, at 142,000 tonnes, due to cool weather during the critical flowering period. VINTAGE 2006 ROUNDUP Some comments from around the region: DECANTER RELEASES RATINGS
UK magazine "Decanter", just released, lists two five-star ratings for Central Otago pinot noirs - Peregrine 2003 Pinot Noir and Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir 2003 - while four stars (highly recommended) went to the following pinot noir wines: Lowburn Ferry 2003, Carrick 2002, Cornish Point 2003, Mount Michael 2002, Mount Difficulty 2003.
TRIPLE SCOOP IN WINE AWARDS FOR LOWBURN FERRY ![]()
Lowburn Ferry Vineyard in Central Otago scooped three of the top trophies, including CHAMPION WINE OF SHOW at the Bragato Wine Awards held in Gisborne on Saturday night. The winning wine was Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2003, made from the first vintage harvested on the 3ha vineyard in the Lowburn Valley, 5km north of Cromwell in Central Otago.
OTAGO WINES TAKE GOLD AT BRAGATO WINE AWARDS 2005 26th August 2005: Three top Otago Pinot Noir wines have won gold medals at the Bragato Wine Awards, held in conjunction with the annual grape and wine industry Romeo Bragato Conference in Gisborne. These awards are unique in New Zealand in that they recognise the grapegrowers, the vineyard and excellence in viticultural practice.
Click Here to Start Shopping
All contents and coding of this site is Copyright © 2007 of NZSOUTH LIMITED, |