Central Otago, near the bottom of New Zealand's South Island, vies for the title of world's most southerly wine region. Vineyards cling to the sides of mountains and high above river gorges in this dramatic landscape. Pinot Noir has proven itself in this challenging Terroir, and takes up nearly three-quarters of the region's vineyard area. The typical Central Otago Pinot Noir is intense and deeply colored, with flavors of doris plum, Sweet spice and bramble.
Two Paddocks, owned by actor Sam Neill, had thought the Last Chance vineyard was the world's most southerly (at 45°15'). But several major Patagonian projects are underway at around 45 to 46°, and Argentina can currently claim the honor for Alejandro Bulgheroni's new vineyard at Sarmiento (45°60').
The viticultural zone covers the mountainous area around the tourist resort town of Queenstown on the eastern side of the Southern Alps. The exact boundaries and sub-regional divisions are not official, but a geographic indication is in the pipeline.
Wineries are scattered around several distinct sub-regions: Gibbston, Alexandra, Wanaka and the Cromwell Basin, itself home to Bendigo, Bannockburn and Lowburn. Lakes Dunstan, Wakatipu and Wanaka all contribute to the terroir as well, along with the Kawarau and Clutha Rivers.
Gold brought the first settlers to the region in the 1860s, and most of the towns in this Part of Otago have a Rich gold-mining history. The first vines were planted during this time by a French migrant but, unlike in the Sierra Foothills region of California where the European settlers provided a steady demand for wines, the tough, transient Otago miners had no interest in drinking wine, preferring beer and spirits.
Originally from Bordeaux, Sauvignon, or Sauvignon Blanc, is reputed to be one of the best French grape varieties for white wine. It is a white grape variety, not to be confused with Sauvignon Gris and its pale yellow color, or with Cabernet Sauvignon which produces red wines. Particularly famous thanks to Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc is cultivated as far as New Zealand, where it produces great wines whose reputation is well established.
pink wines from the region of South Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of veal paupiettes with onions and tomatoes, roast pork with mustard and honey or rabbit provencale (mario style).
On the nose in the region of South Island often reveals types of flavors of strawberries, red fruit or tree fruit and sometimes also flavors of citrus fruit, earth or vegetal.
On the highest volcano in Europe, the magic number is 142: the contrade of Etna represented on a colourful new map just released by the Consorzio Tutela Vini Etna DOC. In the age of viticultural cartography, the Sicilian district has embraced ‘zoning’ to enhance every single nuance of its territory, mostly cultivated with Nerello Mascalese and Carricante. ‘This map establishes the full viticultural maturity of our district and underlines the attitude of its winemakers to team up,’ said Francesco ...
The new venture comprises a suite of tasting spaces over two levels, attached to a large temperature-controlled, 40,000 wine bottle storage facility. It provides elevated views of the vineyard, into a showroom featuring dramatically illuminated ceramic and oak wine storage vessels, and – via a gantry – into the adjacent winery to observe fermentation vessels and experience aromas during vintage. The installation of a large biodynamic flow form along the new building’s entrance wall underlines Ya ...
The Decanter Wine Club has been launched in order to bring our best-scoring wines to wine lovers in the US. There are two offerings available – Everyday Excellence and Rare Luxuries – each providing subscribers with an opportunity to discover the wines that have wowed our experts. It’s a way for subscribers to sample our most sought after and hard to buy wines from our latest panel tastings, before they sell out. No two boxes are the same and given the exclusivity and rarity of these wines ...
