Otago

Central Otago is a wine region (with an appellation request submitted under the recently introduced New Zealand Geographical Indications system) in the central south of South Island, New Zealand. Central Otago has quickly established itself as ground zero for Pinot Noir in New Zealand-in the words of Jancis Robinson, "many believe this is where the Pinot grail is to be found". At 45° S, Central Otago is the most southerly wine region in the world. It is a region of great scenic beauty, set on a backdrop of the snow-capped Southern Alps and the lakeside tourist meccas of Queenstown and Wanaka. While the subregions of Gibbston, Wanaka, Bannockburn, Cromwell Basin, Bendigo, Alexandra and Lowburn-Pisa are world-famous for their Pinot Noirs, the region has much more to offer, with stunning Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer all performing well on selected sites.