New
Zealand is a country of magnificent beauty. Luckily, one if its most stupendous settings is a wine region on the south island. Anchored by the charming city of Queenstown, this
area offers breathtaking natural beauty…in every direction. Imagine crystal clear alpine lakes, dazzling
river gorges cut by millennium-old glaciers, wild verdant forests, and jagged
snow-capped peaks. For years Queenstown has been popular among
extreme sports enthusiasts (hang-gliding, mountain-biking, white-water rafting
…even bungee-jumping was even invented in the area). Now, its audience has expanded to include wine and
food lovers.
The
Central Otago wine region (as the wine district is called) is home to the
globe’s most southern commercial wine region.
Located on the 45th latitude, it is further south of the equator than
South Africa, Australia, Chile or Argentina’s wine areas. In the
70’s it was thought to be too cold to make wine in this region, but all of that
has radically changed. Queenstown’s
surrounding vineyards are now making some show-stopping wines.
Vineyard
plantings in area of the Central Otago district expanded in the 1990’s
after research showed that this region could produce world-class wines. In 1996 there were only 11 wineries. Today there are more than 130. Varietals that thrive best in cool climates
have been planted. Pinot Noir accounts
for nearly 80% of the current vines, along with Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc,
and Riesling.
Here are
my favorites from Central Otago, all of which are available in the US. These are well-crafted wines, and many offer
fairly good value. Listed in alpha order:
- · Felton Road Pinot Noir or Chardonnay
- · Maude Point Pinot Noir or Riesling
- · Mt. Difficulty Long Gully Pinot Noir
- · Two Paddocks Pinot Noir
- · Valli Pinot Noir (Bannockburn, Gibbston or Bendigo vineyards are all good)
Why not buy
a bottle and soak up some of the area’s stunning scenery in your
glass? Or, buy all of the above and host
a wine tasting party of wine made from the world’s southern-most vineyards? A third option is to join Wine-Knows on its
last trip to New Zealand for the harvest in March 2020. Come
experience up-close-and-personal the majestic splendor of this exquisite area. Learn about and enjoy these extraordinary wines from the pros. www.WineKnowsTravel.com
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