Central Otago
Overview
Central Otago is a region full of distinctions and extremes. It is the most southern wine region in the world. It grows nearly two thirds Pinot Noir. Is cool and dry – very dry. Its production grew twenty fold between 1995 and 2005. Vineyards lie in the summer sun against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains that become ski resorts in the winter. Half the challenge of growing grapes in Otago is selecting a site that will create a warm pocket of air and allow grapes to ripen fully. Otago is known for its good reputation, its full, supple Pinot Noir, its lean Chardonnay, its Burgundian-style Pinot Gris – and for its high prices.
History
The first vines in Otago were planted in 1976, but development was sparse and very slow until 1994, when Pinot Noir began to take off. As recently as 1995, no one knew what sort of grapes to grow in Central Otago. Local growers were so confused that they would even the advice of traveling wine journalists. No one dreamed that a region as cool as Otago would ever be red wine country. Ten years later, Otago had defied the odds, become the fastest-growing wine region in New Zealand, and produced Pinot Noir of world renown.
Geography
Central Otago is the southernmost wine region in not only New Zealand, but in the world. Otago lies almost at the southern tip of New Zealand’s South island, and its vineyards are almost entirely inland.
Temperature
In terms of heat summation, Otago is the coldest wine region in New Zealand. Despite the general cold, however, summer temperatures in the daytime can be among the hottest in New Zealand. At night it’s a different story, as temperatures can fall by as much as 30 degrees Celsius (55 F). Precipitation is very low – signs outside some vineyards even go so far as to remind passers-by that they are in a water-conserving desert.
Topography
There is extreme variation within the Otago region, with craggy mountains lining the horizon. In general, vineyards are on warm, north-facing hillsides to ensure that the grapes get as much sun as possible. The most densely planted region so far is Bannockburn, located between Lowburn and the Cromwell Basin.
Terroir
The central question of Otago wine is how Pinot Noir grows so well with so little heat. First, there is an exceptional amount of sun in the summer because Otago is so far south. Second, there is little rainfall and even less cloud cover, so the sun is nearly always shining through. In fact, humidity is so low that grape rot is virtually nonexistent. And third, there is a huge diurnal temperature difference that proves beneficial to the grapes. Ripening occurs during warm daytime hours, but cool nights preserve acidity and nourish vibrant fruit flavors. Finally, the soil in the region is schistous loess. Its heavy texture is good for Pinot grapes, but water turns it to powder rather than clay, and it provides excellent drainage.
Yearly climate variations have a large effect here, and Pinot Noir can range from grassy in cool years to fragrant and perfumed in warmer ones. The relatively warm Cromwell basin produces dense, ripe flavors, where the slightly cooler Alexandra and Gibbston areas produce Pinot Noir that tastes of more supple, juicy fruit.
