The Central Otago Wine Cellar

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CENTRAL OTAGO WINE CELLAR

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CENTRAL OTAGO WINE HISTORY - TODAY

CENTRAL OTAGO TODAY

Take a drive through Central Otago today and you can't help but notice that wine grapes are taking over many of the slopes and valley floors where not so long ago rabbits were running out of control.

It may be coincidental that the proliferation of vineyards in the region has followed a biological control of the rabbit population which came to a head in the 1990's. But its true that rabbits tended to enjoy the warm northerly aspects and dry hillsides which are favoured by viticulturists for the production of high quality grapes.

It wasn't long ago that the sceptics were saying Central Otago was too cold and frost-prone to support a viable wine industry. But the extremes of climate are what makes great and distinctive wines. The region now has a thriving wine trail with a diversity of wine style. The region's reputation is built on high quality boutique wines, with more than 25 wineries, 71 vineyards and 520 hectares of plantings - and strings of national and international awards to its name. More than 60% of the plantings are now pinot noir. Labels like Gibbston Valley, Felton Road and Mount Difficulty have wine lovers both in New Zealand and abroad clammoring for a taste. According to a HortResearch industry report released in May 2000, Otago was producing about 84,000 cases of wine a year (more than a million bottles) worth $24 million. Central Otago was the fastest growing wine area in New Zealand with land planted in grapes increasing by 400 percent in 1998-2000, the report said.

Unofficial figures for the 2002 harvest for Central Otago were red grapes 852 tonnes crushed and white grapes 783 tonnes crushed.

CENTRAL OTAGO WINE HISTORY - TODAY

CENTRAL OTAGO TODAY

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