Felton Road is one of our long-time favourite “New World” producers, and one of the most iconic and admired of New Zealand. Based in the dramatic Central Otago, New Zealand’s southernmost wine region, Felton Road was a biodynamic pioneer (Demeter certified since 2010) and has established a global reputation for serious, site-specific Pinot Noir, as well as smaller quantities of elegant Chardonnay and thrilling Riesling.
Farming four vineyards totalling 34 hectares in the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago, owner Nigel Greening’s focus from the early noughties was to work holistically and create “a completely closed gate farming ecosystem that runs pretty much independently.” This, combined with a commitment to “hands-off” winemaking (use of gravity flow, indigenous yeasts and malolactic bacteria, and no fining or filtration), yields wines which are able to truly – and seemingly effortlessly – express their terroir.
The Bannockburn Pinot Noir is a blend of Felton Road’s four Bannockburn vineyards (Cornish Point, Calvert, MacMuir, and The Elms) – effectively their “village wine”.