In the heart of Central Otago Paul Davies is a little enclave that gives wine lovers a taste of heaven.
Tucked away in the heart of Central Otago is a quiet little valley that punches well above its weight. With a deep gorge and craggy cliffs punctuating both ends, its landscape captures attention, and its story inspires imagination. It lays claim to a couple of firsts that other rural communities can only dream of. Originally a mining settlement that turned to sheep farming as the gold ran out, Gibbston changed forever when the first vines were planted in 1981. Despite criticism from locals, journalist Alan Brady was convinced the unique environment would provide a worthy wine and persevered with the world's most southern vineyard. His results were positive and he developed his hobby into a commercial venture in 1987 with the formation of a vineyard with New Zealand's biggest wine cave, Gibbston Valley Wines.
Just down the road a year later, an entirely different industry was born. Legendary thrill-seeker A.J. Hackett chose the Kawerau Gorge's historic suspension bridge to set up the world's first commercial bungy jump. At just 43m it's far from the highest jump in the country, but leaping from a bridge built in 1880 that so many have conquered before makes it truly unique. It's also the only place in Queenstown to do tandem jumps (for any couples willing to take the plunge) and if it's all a bit too much then there's the newly created zip line - a much more pleasant way to enjoy the stunning vista.
Surrounded by snowcapped peaks at an elevation of 500m, Gibbston appears an unlikely location to grow grapes. "People thought it would never work because they took the temperature off the TV," points out Greg Hay, co-owner of one of the area's larger producers, Peregrine Wines. The particular shape of the valley creates a micro-climate, providing summer temperatures often much higher than in nearby Queenstown, where Central Otago's temperature was recorded.
With his brother Rob, Greg helped develop Chard Farm in the late 80s. They saw an opportunity in the latitude of the area being the same as reputable winemaking region Oregon; 45 degrees - but of course, south.
