This week Gibbston Valley Wines is celebrating the 25th anniversary of commercial grape harvesting in Central Otago.

The 1987 harvest led to the limited release of the first Central Otago wine on the market in 1988. The release included pinot noir, pinot gris and a blend of muller thurgau and gewurtraminer. It was produced from the Home Block vineyard, the oldest in the region. Only a limited quantity of wine is now made from these vines due to their age, root depth and complex fruit.

One of a handful of pioneers of the local wine making industry, Gibbston Valley Wines founder,
Alan Brady planted his first grapes in the early 1980s. Convinced the unique temperature and environment in New Zealand’s Central Otago region provided the ideal setting for successful wine production, Alan saw real potential in the Gibbston location.


Most locals thought he was crazy and doomed to failure – planting grapes surrounded by
snow-capped mountains in the world’s southern-most vineyard. But the vines survived and those
early vintages were better than he had hoped for. Alan had merely intended to indulge his passion
for winemaking as a hobby, but now he was sure that there was serious wine to be made here.


This small beginnings have lead to producing internationally awarded wines and kick started a multi million dollar industry in the region. Nowdays there are around 2000ha of vines in Central Otago grown by more than 100 producers and harvesting about 7000 tonnes of grapes per year.

For more information about wineries and wine tours in the region go here.