Incredible Wine Tour in Central Otago
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 4, 2011 at 4:39 am
As a part of TRENZ, I had the opportunity to take a wine tour with Appellation Central Wine Tours. It was one of the best wine tours of the entire trip. Our guide, Lain, was exceptional. Friendly, knowledgeable and easy going, he educated, informed and entertained – not an easy thing to do with a group of journalists and travel agents, let me tell you!
Situated at an altitude of 45°south, Central Otago is the most southerly wine region in the world. The region’s shaly soil and climate of hot, dry summers, cool autumns and crisp, cold winters provide excellent grape growing conditions for its 177 vineyards which are producing award-winning wines of exceptional elegance and longevity and world-class Pinot Noirs that are increasingly sought-after.
We had a wine tasting at Gibbston Valley, the first commercial wine producer in the Central Otago region. It is also the location of New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave. In an interesting little moment, the Pinot Noir we were to taste had to be taken out of the small wine cooler in the wine cave. The reason, the cave is too chilled for Pinot Noir and the refrigerator keeps the wine at a bit warmer temperature.
We then went on to the Valli Vineyards and spent some time with Grant Taylor, owner and winemaker. For me, this was one of the highlights of our entire trip. Grant is clearly knowledgeable and gifted – he is one of New Zealand’s most awarded Pinot Noir winemaker’s, earning a string of gold medal and trophy accolades throughout his long career. However, none surpasses winning the trophy for Best Pinot Noir – twice – at the world’s largest wine competition, the London International Wine Challenge. A feat achieved by no other winemaker in the world. Yet he is down-to-earth and engaged, interested in what the people he is speaking with think. At one point, he leaned over and picked up a vine to show us and it really felt like he was showing off his babies to us. He was gentle with the vines and clearly had a huge amount of affection for them, the earth and nature. This isn’t just a business to him; it’s his life. And, I have to say, I learned more about wine and wine making during our casual conversation than I have from the several books I have read or the courses I have taken.
And, of course, we got to taste his fabulous wine. I can say without fail, that it is the best Pinot Noir I have ever tasted. I am kicking myself for not bringing a bottle of it back with me. Sigh.
