Iconic and outstanding houses in Central Otago.
Central Otago's Pinots walk a knife edge between ripe stone fruit and savory restraint, their intensity sharpened by continental cold and mountain altitude.
Save these houses, build your route through Central Otago, and navigate when you're there.
Region DNA
The character of Central Otago
Based on 637 wines with structural data
Style profile
Broad range with a recognisable character
FEM score distribution
Based on 183 rated wineries in this region
Flavor territory
Most frequent primary flavor groups
Style breakdown
Wine style frequency · Bar length = relative count
Top grape varieties
Varieties ranked by number of wines · Number = wine count
Most representative winery
The estate whose wines are closest to the regional average — the truest expression of Central Otago
Two Paddocks
VisitCentral Otago wineries worth the stop
The 12 best critic-rated producers in Central Otago with a cellar-door address, ranked by their highest critic score. Check opening hours and book tastings ahead.
- 01
- 02Burn Cottage
91 Burn Cottage Rd,, 9384, Cromwell, New Zealand
Critics' peak 94 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 03Rippon
246 Wanaka Mount Aspiring Road, Wānaka 9305
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 04Mt Difficulty
73 Felton Road, 9384, Bannockburn, Cromwell, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 05Domaine Thomson
Clark Road, 9384, Lowburn, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 06Coal Pit
121 Coal Pit Road, Gibbston, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Enthusiast
- 07Mount Edward
34 Coalpit Road Gibbston Highway RD1, 9371, Queenstown, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 08
- 09Dicey
98 Paterson Road Bannockburn. Mobile: +64274450602, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 10Misha's Vineyard
PO Box 328, 9342, Cromwell, New Zealand
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 11Akitu
69 Maxwell Road Mt Barker, 9382, Wanaka, New Zealand
Critics' peak 92 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Vinous
- 12Valli
2330 Gibbston Highway RD 1, 9371, Queenstown, New Zealand
Critics' peak 92 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
Central Otago is a wine region in New Zealand, home to 294 producers tracked on Femente, 39 of them rated 90+ on the critic index. Its vineyards are led by Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Riesling, producing New Zealand Pinot Gris and New Zealand Riesling wines with notes of Red fruit, Tree fruit, and Citrus fruit. It takes in Gibbston, Bendigo, Lowburn, Earnscleugh Valley, and Bannockburn.
Central Otago — good to know
- What grape varieties are grown in Central Otago?
- The most planted varieties in Central Otago are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay, based on the wines Femente tracks across the region.
- What wines is Central Otago known for?
- Central Otago is known for New Zealand Pinot Gris, New Zealand Riesling, and New Zealand Chardonnay wines and flavors of Red fruit, Tree fruit, and Citrus fruit.
- How many wineries are in Central Otago?
- Femente tracks 294 producers in Central Otago, of which 39 are rated 90+ on the critic index.
- Where is Central Otago?
- Central Otago is a wine region in New Zealand, taking in Gibbston, Bendigo, Lowburn, and Earnscleugh Valley.
Central Otago
Central Otago's Pinots walk a knife edge between ripe stone fruit and savory restraint, their intensity sharpened by continental cold and mountain altitude. Winemakers here chase precision over ripeness, letting the landscape's temperature swings write the vintage's story.
Producers in Central Otago
- Nanny Goat — distinction
- Ellero — distinction
- Northburn Station — honest
- Burn Cottage — critic
- Maori Point — distinction
- Hinton — honest
- Two Paddocks — distinction
- Terra Sancta — distinction
- River Rock — undiscovered
- Shaky Bridge — distinction
- Kingsmill — undiscovered
- Scott Base — distinction
- Hawkshead — distinction
- Three Miners — distinction
- Grasshopper Rock — distinction
- Desert Heart Estate — honest
- Ceres — distinction
- Mount Edward — distinction
- Akitu — distinction
- Amisfield — distinction
- Carrick — distinction
- Aurum — distinction
- Spy Mountain — honest
- Mitre Rocks — honest
- Valli — distinction
- Mt Difficulty — distinction
- Rockburn — distinction
- Rippon — distinction
- Van Asch — honest
- Akarua — distinction
- Lowburn Ferry — distinction
- Ostler — distinction
- Sato — honest
- Domaine Thomson — distinction
- Mt Rosa — honest
- Remarkable — undiscovered
- Tarras Vineyards — distinction
- Kalex — distinction
- Kawarau — distinction
- Pisa Range Estate — distinction
- Swallows Crossing — undiscovered
- Brennan — distinction
- Drumsara — honest
- McArthur Ridge — honest
- Coal Pit — distinction
- Alexandra Wine Company — honest
- Clyde Village — undiscovered
- Bannockburn — undiscovered
- Auburn — distinction
- Gibbston Back Road — undiscovered
- Locharburn — honest
- Mondillo — distinction
- Dart River — undiscovered
- Lake Hayes — honest
- Folding Hill — distinction
- Dicey — distinction
- Como Villa — distinction
- Mt Rosa Lodge — undiscovered
- Doctors Flat — distinction
- Nockie's Palette — honest
- Thyme Hill — undiscovered
- Leaning Rock — undiscovered
- Mt. Iron — honest
- Lake Wakatia — undiscovered
- Bannockburn Bridge — undiscovered
- The Admiral (NZ) — undiscovered
- Eon Of Bendigo — honest
- Te Kano — distinction
- Clyde Village — undiscovered
- Matt Connell — distinction
- The Remarkables — honest
- Black Veil — undiscovered
- Immigrants — undiscovered
- Archangel — distinction
- Madam Sass — honest
- Grey Ridge — undiscovered
- Alpine — undiscovered
- Paddons Paddock — undiscovered
- Joiy — undiscovered
- Putangi — undiscovered
- Morven Ferry Vineyard — undiscovered
- Spoke — distinction
- Black Ridge — distinction
- Domain Road Vineyard — distinction
- Tinwald Farm — undiscovered
- Bald Hills — distinction
- Peregrine — distinction
- Chard Farm — distinction
- Ayrburn — honest
- Felton Road — critic
- Quartz Reef — distinction
- Wooing Tree — distinction
- Mora — honest
- O Naturel Wines — honest
- Bannock Brae — honest
- Judge Rock — distinction
- Misha's Vineyard — distinction
- Two Degrees — honest
- Mount Michael Wines — honest
- Cherry Orchard — undiscovered
- Moko Hills — honest
- Waitiri Creek — honest
- Kinross — honest