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ABOUT US
Our Location
Mount Michael Wines & Estates is in a very strange location indeed - on the hills near Cromwell, a small town in the Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. Why is this odd?
Because Central Otago (or plain 'Central' in the local lingo) is the world's southernmost wine producing region and New Zealand's only "continental" region. The climate is ferocious, to say the least.
Despite this, it is the country's fastest growing wine area with numerous small or boutique vineyards now sited in and around the towns of Wanaka, Cromwell and Alexandra.
Although wine grapes were first planted here in 1864, good things take time as they say in the south, so it was another century before the commercial possibilities were realised. And, it wasn't until 1987 that Central Otago produced its first commercial pinot noir.
Climatic and Environmental Extremes
Central Otago is a weird place for a burgeoning wine industry, no question. It's hot as hell in summer and cold as heck in winter. The summer days are long and autumn is short. The country's highest and lowest temperatures are frequently recorded here. There's not much rain. And frosts are a problem.
As if this weren't enough, it hardly ever rains. In fact there's never much more than 500mm a year (and often much less) so there's heavy reliance on irrigation, especially in a vineyard's establishment years. Fortunately, Cromwell lies at the conjunction of two mountain-fed rivers - the Clutha and the Kawarau - known locally as the 'meeting of the waters'.
You might think these climatic extremes make grape growing a highly risky proposition and you'd be right.
But perversely, it also makes it great for growing grapes.
Here's why...
To ripen properly, grapes need heat during the growing season. They therefore need the long hours of summer daylight found in Central Otago.
But, at the same time, the latitude of 45 degrees south and being over 300 metres above sea level produces a cooling effect on which the grapes thrive. (It's like being in Bordeaux or Burgundy.) Plus, the cool nights suit grapes like pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay that like to ripen slowly.
The poor soil in Central Otago, too, works in viticulturists' favour. Why? Because it inhibits rampant growth and puts the vines under stress, resulting in smaller berries and more concentrated fruit flavours. Therefore, better wine. Central Otago's soil tends to be fine and sandy and sits on top of gravel, so the little rain there is drains quickly away.
Central Otago is deservedly becoming famous for its quality pinor noir wines. These are well known for their complex flavours including cherries, mushrooms, herbs, autumn berries and spice.
Around 70 per cent of the 1100 hectares now planted in vines are pinot grapes. Chardonnay, pinot gris and riesling account for around another 10 per cent each.
And we should mention that Central Otago is also the best region in the country for growing stone fruit, especially luscious cherries and juicy, sweet apricots.
Head Office
Overlooking Lake Dunstan are the world headquarters of Mount Michael Wines & Estates. Okay, we admit that like most wine producers in Central Otago, Mount Michael is quite small. This is thanks largely to the topography.
But what we lack in size, we make up for in quality. Do please try some so you know we're not just blowing our own trumpet. In fact, none of our small band of enthusiasts is terribly musically inclined so the hills around here aren't alive with the sound of music. Instead, they're alive with the sound of growing grapes.
Our Vineyards
Not just one - but three! We don't do things by halves at Mount Michael so three separate growing blocks it is.
Our three vineyards are Mount Michael Broken Arrow, Devil's Creek and Legend Terrace. They're all in the same general area of Central Otago and total 49 hectares. Of this, 32 hectares is planted.
The grapes from all three go into Mount Michael wines.
Mount Michael Broken Arrow: At Lowburn Heights above Lake Dunstan. Here, we have ten hectares, 7.3 of which are in grapes. One half is pinot noir and the other pinot gris.
Devil's Creek: The newest of Mount Michael's vineyards, high above the head of Lake Dunstan on land that, until recently, was part of Bendigo Station (home of Shrek, the famously unshorn ram). We persuaded Sir John and Lady Heather Perriam to part with 30 hectares for our grape-growing venture.
Legend Terrace: In Felton Road, Bannockburn. Of the ten hectare site, eight hectares are planted in pinot noir and pinot gris.
Mount Michael Wines & Estates is in a very strange location indeed - on the hills near Cromwell, a small town in the Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. Why is this odd?
Because Central Otago (or plain 'Central' in the local lingo) is the world's southernmost wine producing region and New Zealand's only "continental" region. The climate is ferocious, to say the least.
Despite this, it is the country's fastest growing wine area with numerous small or boutique vineyards now sited in and around the towns of Wanaka, Cromwell and Alexandra.
Although wine grapes were first planted here in 1864, good things take time as they say in the south, so it was another century before the commercial possibilities were realised. And, it wasn't until 1987 that Central Otago produced its first commercial pinot noir.
Climatic and Environmental Extremes
Central Otago is a weird place for a burgeoning wine industry, no question. It's hot as hell in summer and cold as heck in winter. The summer days are long and autumn is short. The country's highest and lowest temperatures are frequently recorded here. There's not much rain. And frosts are a problem.
As if this weren't enough, it hardly ever rains. In fact there's never much more than 500mm a year (and often much less) so there's heavy reliance on irrigation, especially in a vineyard's establishment years. Fortunately, Cromwell lies at the conjunction of two mountain-fed rivers - the Clutha and the Kawarau - known locally as the 'meeting of the waters'.
You might think these climatic extremes make grape growing a highly risky proposition and you'd be right.
But perversely, it also makes it great for growing grapes.
Here's why...
To ripen properly, grapes need heat during the growing season. They therefore need the long hours of summer daylight found in Central Otago.
But, at the same time, the latitude of 45 degrees south and being over 300 metres above sea level produces a cooling effect on which the grapes thrive. (It's like being in Bordeaux or Burgundy.) Plus, the cool nights suit grapes like pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay that like to ripen slowly.
The poor soil in Central Otago, too, works in viticulturists' favour. Why? Because it inhibits rampant growth and puts the vines under stress, resulting in smaller berries and more concentrated fruit flavours. Therefore, better wine. Central Otago's soil tends to be fine and sandy and sits on top of gravel, so the little rain there is drains quickly away.
Central Otago is deservedly becoming famous for its quality pinor noir wines. These are well known for their complex flavours including cherries, mushrooms, herbs, autumn berries and spice.
Around 70 per cent of the 1100 hectares now planted in vines are pinot grapes. Chardonnay, pinot gris and riesling account for around another 10 per cent each.
And we should mention that Central Otago is also the best region in the country for growing stone fruit, especially luscious cherries and juicy, sweet apricots.
Head Office
Overlooking Lake Dunstan are the world headquarters of Mount Michael Wines & Estates. Okay, we admit that like most wine producers in Central Otago, Mount Michael is quite small. This is thanks largely to the topography.
But what we lack in size, we make up for in quality. Do please try some so you know we're not just blowing our own trumpet. In fact, none of our small band of enthusiasts is terribly musically inclined so the hills around here aren't alive with the sound of music. Instead, they're alive with the sound of growing grapes.
Our Vineyards
Not just one - but three! We don't do things by halves at Mount Michael so three separate growing blocks it is.
Our three vineyards are Mount Michael Broken Arrow, Devil's Creek and Legend Terrace. They're all in the same general area of Central Otago and total 49 hectares. Of this, 32 hectares is planted.
The grapes from all three go into Mount Michael wines.
Mount Michael Broken Arrow: At Lowburn Heights above Lake Dunstan. Here, we have ten hectares, 7.3 of which are in grapes. One half is pinot noir and the other pinot gris.
Devil's Creek: The newest of Mount Michael's vineyards, high above the head of Lake Dunstan on land that, until recently, was part of Bendigo Station (home of Shrek, the famously unshorn ram). We persuaded Sir John and Lady Heather Perriam to part with 30 hectares for our grape-growing venture.
Legend Terrace: In Felton Road, Bannockburn. Of the ten hectare site, eight hectares are planted in pinot noir and pinot gris.
