Our Vineyard

Carved out for greatness

Before there were the 25 steps, there was a steep, nearly rock-hard slope that everyone from the early sheep-farming pioneers of Otago to its latter-day viticulturists had left alone.

Ancient river rock and gravel formations make up the slope, while the flat plateau above is covered in sparse topsoil. The ground is infertile and free draining. The north-facing, elevated aspect ensures all-day sun and a long ripening season. It also brings the added bonus that heat is reflected from the slope onto the vines.

In this part of the world, it can get scorching hot during the day and near freezing at night. It’s the perfect terroir for Pinot Noir.

The 25 Steps vineyard lies in the heart of the Central Otago’s main winegrowing area, overlooking Lake Dunstan, some 8 km north of Cromwell.

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The severe pitch of the land meant our vineyard had to be carved into the hillside one step at a time, with just enough room on each terrace to plant only one or two rows of vines. Only a third of the vines were planted on the flat land at the top of the plateau.

Our vineyard is planted solely in Pinot Noir, including Dijon clones 115, 667 & 777, Pommard clones (UCD 5 & 6) as well as the AM 10/5 clone from Switzerland.

There is no other vineyard like 25 Steps.

New home of Pinot Noir

Central Otago is to Pinot Noir what Marlborough is to Sauvignon Blanc – a place where the variety achieves an expression that rivals its finest Burgundian forerunners.

In the dramatic highlands of New Zealand’s South Island, Otago is the world’s most southerly wine region. Located in the centre lower South Island, the Central Otago wine region is as far from the sea as one can get in New Zealand, a land-locked area with a climate that is more continental than maritime.

Central Otago is a cool winegrowing region, even cold, but Pinot Noir grown on its warmest sites absolutely thrives in the pristine mountain air, the long summer days and chilly nights. This creates intense concentration of flavours, while retaining an acidic seam that gives the wine great ageing potential.

The Cromwell basin around Lake Dunstan has most of the Pinot Noir plantings, but wine is also grown in outlying areas such as the Kawarau Gorge, Alexandra and Wanaka.