At latitude 45º south, the Central Otago Wine Region is the most southerly wine producing region in the world. The vineyards are also the highest in New Zealand at 200 to 400 meters above sea level where they cling precariously to the steep slopes of lakesides and the edges of deep river gorges. Central Otago is a sheltered inland area with a continental microclimate characterized by hot, dry summers, short, cool autumns and crisp, cold winters. A glass of red wine This article is about the beverage. ... A vineyard A vineyard is a place where grapes are grown for making wine, raisins, or table grapes. ... The area known as Central Otago in Otago, New Zealand, includes the middle of the region but generally also most of the north_western portion (the Queenstown_Lakes District). ...

History of the wine region

Significant European occupation in this region started with the Otago goldrush in the 1860s, but a French immigrant gold miner, Jean Desire Feraud, soon started planting vines and embarking upon small-scale commercial wine production – even winning medals in Australian wine competitions. While this early experimentation showed the wine-growing potential of the region, the wine industry did not survive for long on a commercial basis. Once the gold rush abated, the Central Otago economy turned to sheep farming and fruit production, and – once the world began to discover the stark natural beauty of its mountains and lakes – to skiing and tourism. This article is about the continent. ... Events and trends Italian unification under King Victor Emmanuel II. Wars for expansion and national unity continue until the incorporation of the Papal States (March 17, 1861 - September 20, 1870). ... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ... The term vine was originally a term for the plant on which grapes grew, from the word for wine (Greek oinos), for which grapes were grown. ... Sheep husbandry is the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. ... Skiing is the activity of gliding over snow using skis (originally wooden planks, now usually made from fiberglass or related composites) strapped to the feet with ski bindings. ... A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ...

Starting in the 1950s, and up through the end of the 1970s, small scale trial plantings of vines began again both by private individuals and under the auspices of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture. By 1980 sufficient experience and confidence had been gained for small scale commercial plantings to be made. Events and trends Although in the United States and in many other Western societies the 1970s are often seen as a period of transition between the turbulent 1960s and the more conservative 1980s and 1990s, many of the trends that are associated widely with the Sixties, from the Sexual Revolution... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

Vineyard planting and production remained modest until the middle of the 1990s when the industry began to expand rapidly. In 1996 there were just 11 wineries in the Central Otago region, according to New Zealand Winegrowers (http://www.nzwine.com), accounting for just 4.6% of the national total. By 2004 this had risen to 75 wineries and 16.2%. Over the same period, the area planted with vines rose from 92 hectares (1.4% of the national total) to 1,062 hectares (5.1%). Reflecting this rapid expansion, the long lead-time for planting to come into production, and the focus in Central Otago on quality wines rather than bulk wines, actual wine production accounted for only 0.5% (376 tonnes) of the New Zealand total in 1996, increasing to 0.9% (1,439 tonnes) in 2004. Events and trends Technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other technology Reduction in size and cost of mobile phones leads to a massive surge in their popularity Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K) Microsoft Windows operating system becomes virtually ubiquitous on IBM... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... A winery is a facility where fruit, usually grapes, is processed into wine. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Climate and soil

At around the 300 meter contour level, Central Otago's vineyards are protected by high mountains (up to 2,000 meters) from New Zealand's characteristic maritime climate. They thus enjoy the only true continental climate zone in the country, with the large daily and seasonal temperature extremes typical of such geographies. Rainfall averages around 375-600mm here: summer is hot and relatively dry, and often accompanied by the Nor'wester fohn wind; autumn is short, cool and sunny; and winter is cold, with substantial falls of snow. Heavy frosts are common throughout winter and, indeed, frost can occur at any time between March and November. In the earlier days of experimental planting in the region, many skeptics warned that the conditions would preclude successful commercial wine growing: in fact, these very climatic extremes are what can, given careful husbandry techniques, produce exceptional wines of great distinction and intensity. The Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) was a Discovery-class space mission. ... An oceanic climate (also called marine west coast climate and maritime climate) is the climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of all the worlds continents, and in southeastern Australia; similar climates are also found at high elevations within the tropics. ... A continental climate is the climate typical of the interiors of the large continents of the Northern Hemisphere; similar climates exist along the east coasts (but not the west coasts) of the same continents, and also at higher elevations in certain other parts of the world. ... In meteorology, precipitation is any kind of water that falls from the sky as part of the weather. ... The Norwest arch is a weather pattern peculiar to the east coast of New Zealands South Island. ... A foehn wind occurs when a deep layer of prevailing wind is forced over a mountain range. ...

The climatic contrast between Central Otago and the more humid, warmer wine regions of the North Island can be illustrated by the difference in the timing of the grape harvest. In the more northerly vineyards, picking generally takes place in late February or early March, while in Central Otago the harvest begins in mid to late April – a difference of some six to seven weeks. The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ...

The structure of the soil also differs considerably from other wine growing regions of the country, with heavy deposits of rough-edged mica and other metamorphic schists in silt loams. This soil drains easily, and given that most vineyards are positioned on hillside slopes, artificial irrigation is generally essential.

Wines

Pinot Noir is the leading grape variety in Central Otago, and is estimated to account for some 70% of plantings. The notoriously fickle Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine grape in Burgundy, France, which has set the standard for wine produced from this variety. While many New World wine regions have tried to emulate Burgundy's success, most experts would agree that the results have been of fairly average quality. Central Otago, however, with its combination of climate, terroir and determined winemaking appears to have the capacity to produce a world-class Pinot Noir that is increasingly sought-after. The grape here is producing elegant wines with great aging potential that some experts believe will ultimately give the best of Burgundy its first true competition. Pinot Noir is a red wine grape variety, considered to make some of the greatest wines. ... Coat of arms of the 2nd duchy of Burgundy and later of the French province of Burgundy Burgundy ( French: Bourgogne) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Pre-Indo-European people, Celts ( Gauls), Romans ( Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks. ... Terroir is a French term in wine appreciation used to denote the special characteristics of geography that give a wine its individuality. ...

The other 30% of production comes from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer. The latter three in particular, amenable to Central Otago's climatic conditions and soil type, are showing great promise, and may develop a reputation to match the Pinot Noirs. Limited production of sparkling wine, made in the traditional style from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, has been of good quality, and has received some accolades at wine tastings around the world. Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make a white varietal wine. ... Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine grape probably originating in the Bordeaux region of France that is now planted in much of the worlds winelands producing a crisp dry refreshing white varietal wine. ... Riesling is a white grape variety and varietal appellation of wines grown historically in Alsace (France), Austria, Germany (see German wine), and northern Italy. ... Pinot Gris is a white wine grape of species Vitis vinifera related to Pinot noir which goes by a lot of other names: Pinot Grigio (Italy) Pinot Beurot (Loire Valley, France) Ruländer (Austria and Germany, Romania, sweet) Grauburgunder or Grauer burgunder (Austria and Germany, dry) Grauklevner (Germany) Malvoisie (Loire... Gewürztraminer is a white wine grape variety. ... Categories: Wines | Oenology | Stub ...

The wine industry today

As of 2005, the wine industry in Central Otago is still at an early stage of development, and will likely continue in a strong growth phase through at least 2020, and possibly beyond.

So far, it has avoided participating in the low-price, bulk wine market where competition is intense and margins are low. The Central Otago Winegrowers Association (http://www.cowa.org.nz) believes that "for the industry to succeed and grow, a strategy aimed at keeping quality standards at the highest possible level, and aiming at the top end of the market, is the only sustainable course of action for the industry to follow."

The challenges faced by the industry in Central Otago include an unpredictable climate, a relatively low yield, and poor economies of scale – leading to high production costs. On the other hand, these are factors which also contribute to the quality of the wine (particularly the Pinot Noir), and to the boutique winery image of the region.

International recognition is an essential element in the region's future success since – given the small domestic wine market and the relatively high prices of its output – a large proportion of its production is exported. Such recognition is increasingly being achieved.

Wine critic Jane Macquitty of The Times (of London) wrote in late 2003, "At last Burgundy has a serious New World rival. It used to be gospel that pinot noir could not be grown successfully beyond the Côte-d'Or… But now I have discovered a little-known and mostly unsung young region that I think will knock the rest of the pinot noir gang for six - Central Otago." And a leading British wine writer, Jancis Robinson MW, named Central Otago as one of the top five New World wine producing regions in early 2005. In a Decanter magazine interview she listed Central Otago together with Napa Valley (California), Margaret River (Western Australia), Stellenbosch (South Africa) and Willamette (Oregon) as her five favourite New World regions. Côte-dOr is a département in the eastern part of France. ... Master of Wine is an internationally recognised qualification (MW) conferred by The Institute of Masters of Wine, founded in 1955 and based in the United Kingdom. ... Napa County is in north-central California Napa Valley is most famous for its wine. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... Location of Margaret River Margaret River is a town and river in Western Australia. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... Stellenbosch is the second oldest European settlement in South Africa (after Cape Town) and is located in the Western Cape Province. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... State nickname: Beaver State Other U.S. States Capital Salem Largest city Portland Governor Ted Kulongoski Official languages None Area 255,026 km² (9th)  - Land 248,849 km²  - Water 6,177 km² (2. ...

Synergies with tourism are also important to the wine industry, and the region is well-located to benefit from this with Queenstown, New Zealand's best-known year-round tourist destination, on its doorstep. 'Wine route' attractions are developing rapidly, with winery visits, tastings, gourmet restaurants and winery home-stays being increasingly promoted by the in-bound tour operators. The view from the Skyline Gondola, looking south across Queenstown Bay. ...

Given its geographical restrictions, Central Otago will never become a vast wine growing region, but if it can build upon its growing reputation for wines (particularly Pinot Noir) of exceptional elegance and longevity, it appears well-poised to carve itself an important and profitable niche in the world market.

External links

• New Zealand Winegrowers (http://www.nzwine.com)
• Central Otago Winegrowers Association (http://www.cowa.org.nz)
• Central Otago Wine Cellar (http://www.otagowine.com) (although a commercial site, this also has excellent information about the region and its industry)