Alexandra-Clyde

The very first Central Otago vineyard was planted near Clyde in 1864. Jean Desire Feraud was attracted to the area during the Dunstan goldrush of 1862. He came from a French winemaking family and quickly recognised the potential for grape growing; over the next 20 years he made a variety of wines, some winning prizes in Sydney wine competitions. His stone built winery "Monte Christo" still survives today.

Alexandra is an area of climatic extremes, very hot, very cold and mostly dry. But specific sites have proven to grow good grapes which are made into excellent wines. Black Ridge Vineyard near Earnscleugh, where the rocks were literally blasted to make holes for posts and vines, is one of the "modern pioneers" in the region.

Now plantings at Springvale (Springvale Estate, William Hill), Leaning Rock, Alexandra Wine Company, Hawkdun Rise, around Alexandra township and others in the Earnscleugh area, notably Dry Gully and Two Paddocks are all well established in their own rights, while the McArthur Ridge development once completed looks likely to be one the biggest vineyard in the entire Otago region.

        

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