If the people at the helm of our tourist industry want to know how to spend a wise penny than they should take note of what’s been written about Central Otago in some very influential international wine and food publications.

 

Clearly there has recently been considerable effort and expense put into the promotion of Central Otago and its wines.  Several very respected wine writers have recently been attracted into spending time in beautiful Central Otago and what they have written on their return home will surely prove beneficial in promoting not only the region’s Pinot Noirs but also tourism numbers as well.

 

All of these people are notable wine writers and some tourism leaders would possibly question the influence they would have in attracting travellers south but when you review what they have said about the region the impact on visiting numbers could be substantial. 

 

The other factor of importance is the income level of the readers of all three of these feature articles.  These are some of the key statements.

 

The Wine Spectator (USA) – Matt Kramer

“The newest gold mine is New Zealand’s Central Otago district at the southern end of the South Island.  It’s the world’s most southerly winegrowing area.  In the space of little more than a decade (most of the regions 4000 or so vineyard acres were only planted in the late 1990’s) Central Otago has become a Pinot Noir player.  Its accomplishment is so striking that I decided to spend a week in Central Otago.”

 

“Central Otago Pinot Noirs are dramatic:  blackish garnet in colour and plumped with an opulence of black cherry and chocolate flavours, along with whiffs of blackcurrant, liquorice, raspberry and cherry.  It’s Pinot Noirs taste like no others.  Above all, theirs is real terroir, namely a fidelity to the particularities of a place rather than the mimicry of something else.”

 

“Worth noting is that screw caps are universal in Central Otago.  This is the only time I have tasted more than 100 wines without detecting T.C.A. (cork taint).”

“And how good are these Pinot Noirs?  Darn good.  I cannot recall a new winegrowing region, let alone one consecrated to a variety as demanding as Pinot Noir that has vaulted to such a level of accomplishment in so short a time.”

 

Food & Wine (USA) – Robert Joseph

“Central Otago – why Pinot lovers need to know what these words mean.”  “It’s dramatic mountains, gorges and lakes, and now its stunning Pinot Noirs – make New Zealand’s Central Otago one of the most dazzling spots on the planet.”

 

“Unlike Napa Valley or the Medoc of Bordeaux, Central Otago, on New Zealand’s South Island, lured travellers (mainly skiers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts) long before it became famous for its wine.  With its deep woods and vast moors, snowy peaks and savage gorges, Central Otago easily wins my vote as the most beautiful wine region in the world.”

 

“Ultimately, I believe Central Otago’s future will depend on the quality of the next generation of wines.  As winemaker Dean Shaw says, no-one knows how the Pinots will taste once the vines are a little older and the roots a bit deeper.  And no one knows if the best wines will be single vineyard examples like Felton Road’s or assemblages from several vineyard sites, such as Chard Farm’s Finla Mor.  Time will also tell if early luminaries like Gibbston Valley can maintain their status or if they’ll be surpassed by some as yet unknown star.  I for one can’t wait to find out.”

 

San Francisco Chronicle – Jancis Robinson MW

“I used to think South Africa has the most beautiful wine country in the world, but now I have at last visited Central Otago in the south of New Zealand’s South Island, I am not so sure.  Think lakes, mountains and crystal clear air, and now vineyards.”

“What I admire about the Pinots of Central Otago is that they have in remarkably short time developed their own style – which I would describe as ‘exuberantly fruity’ yet with enough acidity and ripe tannins to convince me that many will make old bones too.  Some are even quite delicate, although as elsewhere they are picking later and later to achieve very ripe tannins and the result is fairly high alcohol levels, often more than 14 percent, and routine acidification – in the world’s most southerly wine region!”

“I tasted several hundred Central Otago Pinots during my stay in Queenstown and hardly encountered a badly made wine”

 

How could you underestimate comments such as “one of the most dazzling spots on the planet,” or “Central Otago easily wins my vote as the most beautiful wine region in the world.”

 

Even if you had no interest at all in wine, there must surely be many people who will travel south just to see what has excited these writers so much.

 

I hope that the wine industry groups who brought these writers to New Zealand make sure that these articles are brought to the attention of the respective tourism boards and they may find that money spent this way is very effective and relatively inexpensive compared with some of the other promotions they support.  Some of us have always known that Central Otago was one of the greatest places on the planet and we are happy for the rest of the world to know this as well.

 

 

 

Central Otago Pinot Noirs are good, many are very fine wines indeed.  2002 was a spectacular vintage and most of the wines from this year are recommended.  2003 also produced many excellent wines but quality is not universal across the region, you need to choose carefully.  Of the 2003 Otago Pinot Noirs we have tasted, we recommend the following:

 

Akarua & Akarua The Gullies, Rockburn, Two Paddocks, Felton Road, Carrick, Amisfield, Olssens Slapjack Creek, Kawarau Reserve and Mt. Difficulty Target Gully.

 

There are around 80 labels coming out of the region now and there will be dozens we have not been able to taste yet that will also be drinking well.

 

Cheers,

 

Kingsley Wood