What was the first winery to open in Central Otago?
the Monte Christo winery
The earliest growing of vines in the region had been during the 1860s at the Monte Christo winery in Clyde by Frenchman Jean Desire Feraud who produced wines for the local population which was swelling on the back of the gold rush.
What wine is Central Otago known for?
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir flourishes in the Central Otago, with a variety of stunning expressions being crafted in the numerous sub-regions. The region is also renowned for producing excellent aromatics, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
What grape is Central Otago best known for?
Pinot noir
Pinot noir is the leading grape variety in Central Otago, estimated to account for some 70% of plantings. The other 30% of production comes from Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Pinot gris, and Gewürztraminer.
What happened during the Otago gold rush?
Thousands of diggers rushed to ‘Gabriel’s Gully’ hoping to strike it rich. A slice of the goldfields population of Victoria moved across the Tasman − not only miners, but also businesspeople and entertainers. The discovery was a major economic boost to both Otago province and the wider New Zealand economy.
Why is Central Otago a challenging region for winemaking?
It is a fragmented region with a consistently harsh climate and climate change is already amplifying inherent problems here; vineyard land is being built on and sold; there’s been a spate of incoming corporate buy-outs and land prices are escalating.
Why is Central Otago good for Pinot Noir?
Surrounded by mountains, Central Otago boasts a cool climate that is uniquely protected from the wet coastal weather on either side. We have hot dry summers, cool dry winters and plenty of sunshine hours. All this combines to yield Pinot Noirs that are smooth, silky and complex.
Where was under the vines filmed?
Central Otago
Under The Vines, starring Rebecca Gibney and Charles Edwards, of The Crown and Downton Abbey fame, launched in New Zealand this week. The six part romantic comedy commissioned by TVNZ and Acorn Films is set in Central Otago, with the incredible vineyards around Gibbston Valley and Alexandra landscape as its backdrop.
Where is under the vines filmed?
Who discovered gold in Central Otago?
Gabriel Read
In May 1861 Gabriel Read, an experienced Australian prospector, discovered gold in Otago, and during the two succeeding months many men left Dunedin to try their luck on the Tuapeka field. By the beginning of August there were 2,000 diggers camped on Read’s location.
When was gold discovered in Central Otago?
20 May 1861
The Otago Gold Rush (often called the Central Otago Gold Rush) was a gold rush that occurred during the 1860s in Central Otago, New Zealand….Otago Gold Rush.
Old gold workings, St Bathans, Otago | |
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Other names | Central Otago Gold Rush, Clutha Gold Rush |
Discovery | 20 May 1861, Gabriel’s Gully |
Duration | 1861–64 |
Prospectors | 18,000 |
Is Central Otago cool climate?
Central Otago is a region of extremes and holds the record for the hottest summer temperature (38.7C) but also the coldest (-22.7C). Even in the height of summer the night time temperatures are cold.
Is Zinfandel White or red?
red wine
Zinfandel is a red wine grape variety that is the second most planted red grape in California. The grape makes robust, aromatic, juicy wines that are high in alcohol.
What was the reward for the discovery of gold in Otago?
The Otago provincial government had offered a £1000 reward for the discovery of ‘payable quantities’ of gold. Read, a prospector from Tasmania, claimed the reward (equivalent to more than $110,000 today), despite the fact he was following up a find in about 1858 by Indian-born Edward Peters (‘Black Peter’).
What to do in the Central Otago wine region?
Sit back and relax as you drive through the Central Otago wine region and pass the famous Kawarau Gorge. Be transported to a different time and place with your themed headsets available in English, Spanish and Mandarin. themed GPS headsets will bring your experience to life.
How did Central Otago change over the years?
Over the next hundred years, their changing fortunes transformed Central Otago as towns took root, business boomed and sometimes bust, and the landscape was reshaped as miners dug ever deeper to find the prize. We’ll never know exactly how much was won.