Paula Ramage grew up in Alexandra and the Ward family farmed for many years on Malaghan’s Road, near Arrowtown. Central Otago is the homeland, the opportunity to develop a family vineyard there was too good to ignore. With equal amounts of enthusiasm and naivety, the Shanagolden Block was purchased in Gibbston and planted to Chardonnay in 1994. The historical site was originally settled in 1867 by James Leslie, a Scot who had emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 17. He and his partner, Thomas Kinross followed the Dunstan gold rush. Kinross established the Gibbston store and Post Office and James Leslie was the butcher and baker but also continued to prospect for gold. The free-draining, northerly aspect of this Block was particularly suited to viticulture.

Two Paddocks' three vineyards are located in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. From this golden countryside, where old trails still wind through historic gold mines and ice blue lakes nestle below rugged mountains, comes some of the world's best Pinot Noir, a wine that will rival the great Pinot Noirs of Burgundy. It's the region's continental climate with its hot dry summers, cool autumns, and cold winters that provides the perfect environment to nurture the perfect grape. Add to that warm days and cool nights for colour and stability and the wine that results is nothing less than excellence.

Central Otago is New Zealand's youngest and most dynamic wine region. Quartz Reef's first release was in 1998, and in this short period the estate has already gained international recognition. The 'c' on the Quartz Reef label stands for Chauvet and the 'b' stands for Bauer. These elements embody the South Pacific influence, and the blue wave represents Lake Dunstan. Clotilde Chauvet, Rudi Bauer, Trevor Scott and John Perriam are principal partners.

Alpine mountains to the west, rocky ranges to the south and dry tussock covered hills to the east dominate the landscape, and all assist in the topographical elements of this most exceptional of terroirs. In between all of this grandness, on the lush valley floors are nestled the Nanny Goat Vineyards.

Mt Difficulty owns some of the oldest vineyards and is one of most respected wineries in the Central Otago region of New Zealand's rugged South Island. The joint venture company, founded by some of Central Otago's most devoted and skillful growers, has grown into a leading New Zealand boutique winery with export markets everywhere.

Since 1877 when Samuel McWilliam planted his first vines at Corowa in New South Wales, successive generations of the McWilliam family have been pioneering the art of fine winemaking in Australia. Always innovative, McWilliam's has ensured its position at the forefront of Australian winemaking by introducing new production techniques and some of the world's most advanced technology in the company's wineries and vineyards.

In establishing the vineyard, the proprietors searched for land that would provide the best conditions for consistently producing a premium Pinot Noir in a elegant Central Otago style. The chosen site is situated on Earnscleugh Road, across the Clutha River from Alexandra. The property enjoys high sunshine hours and high mean temperatures and is sufficiently harsh and difficult to make the vines work their hardest. With extremes of heat and cold comes the risk of spring and autumn frosts, providing a demanding but rewarding environment for the production of premium pinot noir.

Here, vineyards are nestled into small macroclimates totally surrounded by high mountains, many of which are snowcapped all year round. Though the location is on the edge of sustainable viticulture these macroclimates consistently combine hot days, cool nights and long dry autumns, perfect for the creation of fine Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. The latitude of 45 degrees south is similar to the Willamette Valley in Oregon and some of the finest wine regions of France.

He arrived at the tender age of 14 and worked in the Dunstan and Gibbston areas for several years before settling at the Morven Ferry end of the old coach road to Queenstown, a place that is now well known in the area as "Chard Farm."

Amisfield Vineyard is located 7km north of Lowburn near the shores of Lake Dunstan in Central Otago, New Zealand. Originally a high country merino stud nestled between Amisfield and Parkburn streams, planting commenced in 1999, and now consists of 60 hectares of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The vines are close planted on a range of alluvial and glacial schist soils imparting balance in the vines growth and productivity.