It was a long and peculiar drive from Waipara to Queenstown, taking about seven hours. The first part of the journey encompassed two and a half hours through flat, pivot-irrigated cow pastures to the south of Christchurch, a rather dreary sight. Upon reaching Geraldine, a quintessential country town, the scenery began to transform. As the landscape became more dramatic, the route passed by the breathtaking alpine lakes, Tekapo and Pukaki, which shimmer with a vivid blue on sunny days, framed by the majestic Mount Cook in the distance. The road then led through the striking Lindis Pass before finally arriving in Central Otago.
In Central Otago, I had three planned visits that focused on in-depth explorations rather than brief stops. My first destination was Te Kano, where I met with Rhonda Lloyd (the owner), Dave Sutton (the winemaker), Natty Walsh (marketing), and Mark Naismith (viticulture). I was eager to see the progress of their Northburn vineyard since my last visit in 2018 when the vineyard was newly planted.
Te Kano spans 40 hectares adjacent to Lake Dunstan and includes various vineyard blocks, each differing in altitude, aspect, and soil type. The vineyards looked healthy and thriving.
In addition to Northburn, Te Kano holds vineyards in Bannockburn, where their impressive tasting room is located, as well as in Waitaki. The Waitaki site, characterized by strong limestone influences and a cooler climate, has established vineyards that the team acquired along with the old Pasquale winery, boasting a 400-ton capacity. This acquisition proved to be a more cost-effective solution than constructing a winery in Central.
The wines produced are diverse, ranging from approachable crowd-pleasers to more complex Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Dave, with his thoughtful winemaking approach, benefits from having vineyards in Northburn, Waitaki, and Bannockburn, allowing for intriguing blending opportunities alongside single vineyard offerings. A comprehensive write-up on their wines will follow.