The Central Otago Wine Region is a stunningly beautiful region in the southern half of the South Island of New Zealand.

The varieties of grape suitable for this region are: Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. Producting world class wines in the Southern most wine region in the world, the vineyards lie in the balleys between the alpine mountains to the west, craggy hills to the south and dry, tussock clad hills to the east.

The commercial productin of wine first began in this region 120 years ago, but it has been the last five years that has seen rapid expansion in the Central Otago Wine industry. The vineyards of this region are clustered mainly in four sub-regions based on the twons of Alexandra, Cromwell, Wanaka and Queenstown. It is possible to drive around this region in a day, a tour of the wine trails is highly recommended.

Nine Vineyards are currently open to visitors:

• Chard Farm and Gibbston Valley near Queenstown
• Felton Road, Olssen's of Bannockburn at Cromwell
• Rippon Vineyard near Wanaka
• Springvale Estate, William Hill, Briar Vale Estate and Black Ridge near Alexandra.

At between 200 and 350 metres above sea level, these are the higest altitude vineyards in New Zealand and the most distant from the sea. The relatively low humidity results in low incidence of fungal disease and minimal spraying.

Tours that follow the wine trail depart regularly from Queenstown, see your local Tourist Information Centre for details - they can also provide you with a map of the region and its vineyards. Two tours currently operating are: Central Otago Wine Tours - www.winetoursnz.com; and Queenstown Wine Trail - email qwinetrail@xtra.co.nz.

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