Central Otago - Taste the Difference
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Gourmet travellers in search of delicious organic produce and fine wines will find themselves in heaven in Central Otago. Central’s dry climate and seasonal extremes produce a natural bounty that is simply amazing. The combination of cold winters and hot dry summers produces a delectable clarity of flavour that is being captured with care in the increasing variety of products created by the region’s thriving food, beverage and wine industries.
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It also means that produce that needs to be sprayed elsewhere can grow happily without spraying here. The region’s organic fruit and vegetables have a wonderful appearance – combined with all that natural goodness and purity of organics. Central Otago has long had a reputation as the Fruit Bowl of the South, particularly the towns of Cromwell and Roxburgh. Make sure you stop by the local orchards, farms and roadside stalls to sample some of the delicious sun-ripened apricots, nectarines, cherries, plums, pears, apples and peaches – you won’t be disappointed.
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Perfectly complementing the organic produce and fruit are the award-winning Central Otago wines, which have a unique clarity and purity. The region’s pinot noir has won many accolades and already has a well earned international reputation. You can take the Cromwell and Bannockburn Wine Trail along the spectacular Kawarau Gorge and Lake Dunstan to where most of the region’s vineyards grow, or follow the Clyde and Alexandra Wine Trail to vineyards nestled among rugged schist rock and historic gold landmarks.
A relative new-comer to the industry is the Cromwell based, family-run, Wooing Tree Vineyard , which employs renown winemaker Carol Bunn. The vineyard released its first (and prizewinning) pinot noir in 2003 from locally sourced grapes. The Wooing Tree Vineyard adds to the region’s reputation for producing fine wines, but locals /P8232411.jpg)
also love it for its story. In the middle of the vineyard is a very mature pine tree, which lends its name to the vineyard. This tree is famously known as ‘the wooing tree’. Local folklore has it that courting couples would meet beneath the tree. Today, the Wooing Tree is something of a modern romantic icon with two engagements and a wedding already having taken place under it – and more expected.
Central Otago’s specialist food industry may be small in scale, but it /Blossom-in-Central-Otago.jpg)
makes up for it by producing a quality product. The best olive oil, saffron, preserves and honey - you will find it all right here. Unique Central Otago flavours such as thyme, cherries and walnuts provide distinctive combinations of tastes that aren’t found outside of ‘Central’.
There are even more taste sensations at Provisions of Central Otago in Old Cromwell Town, famous for its range of gourmet preserves and products including jams, jellies, chutneys, sauces, vinegars and home baking. Many have won awards including the delectable Roasted Nectarine Chutney. It also produces delicacies like chocolate cherries, fabulous edgy quince paste to have with cheese, and shortbread in flavours of walnut and wild thyme, saffron and almond, apricot and manuka, and lavender.
Taste the difference – whether you select fresh seasonal produce from roadside stalls or try locally produced preserves, sauces and chutneys, olive oils, honey and more – you won’t be able to resist taking some home for later!
Useful Info
Editorial and images supplied courtesy of Tourism Central Otago