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.
Gewurztraminer rosé is a grape variety that originated in France. It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of vine is characterized by small bunches and small grapes. Gewurztraminer rosé can be found in many vineyards: Alsace, Loire Valley, Languedoc & Roussillon, Jura, Champagne, Lorraine, Provence & Corsica, Rhone Valley, Savoie & Bugey, Beaujolais, South West.
white wines from the region of South Island go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, vegetarian or goat cheese such as recipes of small cuttlefish a la plancha, cream and tuna quiche or light goat cheese and crab tart.
On the nose in the region of South Island often reveals types of flavors of pineapple, green papaya or green herbs and sometimes also flavors of slate, dried fruit or marmalade. In the mouth in the region of South Island is a with a nice freshness.
‘Por fin se ha hecho justicia.’ (Finally, justice has been served) This strongly-worded statement was made by the Denomination of Origin Utiel-Requena in Spain’s Autonomous Region of Valencia as part of a press announcement in July. It refers to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that was fully ratified at the end of September, closing a decade-long conflict between the region’s three DOs that pitted Valencia against Utiel-Requena and Alicante. The latter two had demanded that grapes fro ...
The most enduring of classic cocktails, the Martini is simple to make and infinitely customisable. But how do you create the very best one possible? We asked the top mixologists in London’s Martini business – Agostino Perrone and Giorgio Bargiani of The Connaught Bar, Alessandro Palazzi of Dukes Bar and Brian Silva of Rules. Here are their thoughts… The spirit: Vodka vs gin None of our bartenders would badmouth the Vodka Martini. And yet, all name gin as their go-to spirit base, because it has s ...
Celebrating its 20th year, Decanter World Wine Awards has firmly solidified its standing as the world’s largest and most influential wine competition. Hundreds of the world’s leading wine experts are recruited to judge at the competition, with country- and regionally-specific panels meticulously organised to ensure wines are judged by specialists in their field. DWWA 2023 Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW comments, ‘We have colleagues at DWWA who are winemakers, Master Sommeliers, retailers, wine buy ...
