Central Otago

Central Otago's place in this country's wine pantheon has gone from minnow to whale in two short decades, as a few pioneering souls punted with Pinot Noir and found themselves saying whatever the winemaking equivalent of 'ka-ching' might be. Pinot is the new gold, and from its early roots in Gibbston Valley it has taken hold across the region, scooping up a variety of soils and a slew of awards as microclimates, sub-regions and calls for appellation contrôlée (or indeed any kind of control) emerge amidst the victory cries of another trophy heading down south for a world-beating wine. Lots of little producers, á la Burgundy, define Central Otago, but don't let Pinot Noir do the same: outrageously good Riesling and Chardonnay spill forth too, and sparkling wines as good as any in the land (or any other land) have solid reps and large followings.