Central Otago
TOP WINERIES OF N.Z – The Real Review 2023
2019 ‘VINTEC’ NZ SUSTAINABLE WINERY OF THE YEAR
Nestled at the southern end of one of the broad glacial river valleys surrounded by the Cairnmuir
and Carrick mountain ranges, Carrick is situated within the unique micro climate of Bannockburn
in Central Otago. Carrick is certified Bio-GroNZ organic. Vineyards are managed sustainably and
yields are low. In order to produce exceptional wines; pruning, shoot positioning, shoot and fruit
thinning, leaf plucking and picking are carried out by hand. There is extensive use of cover crops to
encourage natural biodiversity and useful insects and they are rewarded by the numbers of beneficial
birds that live in the vineyards. The “must” from the winery along with other organic material is
composted and fed back to the vineyards. The compost heaps are also the territory of their free range
hens who roam the vineyard and provide eggs for their restaurant.
Pinot Noir is Carrick’s flagship wine. The Pinot Noir grape blocks are picked as the winemaker
determines, by taste and ripeness. Each parcel is fermented separately following a cool soak in open
fermenters using wild yeasts and usually with a proportion of whole bunches. The grapes are hand
plunged several times a day until the wine is dry. The winemaker then determines the optimum
time for the wine to go to barrel. This is probably one of the most important stages in winemaking
and is a process that should not be hurried. The wine is gravity fed to the French oak barrels in the
underground cellar, where they are aged for 12 months. Bottling follows tasting, assessment and
blending.
Certified Organic
2022 Sauvignon Blanc – SOLD OUT
2021 Bannockburn Chardonnay – SOLD OUT
94 Points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
2021 ‘Unravelled’ Pinot Noir – SOLD OUT
94 Points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
2021 Bannnockburn Pinot Noir – SOLD OUT
5 STARS – Michael Cooper