McArthur Ridge sits high on the terraces above the Waikerikeri Valley in Central Otago’s Alexandra Basin, one of New Zealand’s most striking and extreme winegrowing regions. The property traces its roots to 1870, when Scottish settler James McArthur arrived in the area. More than a century later, the land - once defined by gold rush trails and arid soils - was transformed into a vineyard, made possible by a natural spring fed by glacial waters.

The scale of McArthur Ridge is impressive, but its identity remains firmly grounded in place. The estate is especially known for Pinot Noir, a variety that thrives in the basin’s dry climate, long sunshine hours, and cool nights. With a strong focus on site expression, technical rigour, and sustainability, McArthur Ridge has earned both national and international acclaim for wines that are precise, structured, and expressive of their high-altitude origin.

McArthur Ridge occupies a dramatic landscape of mica schist, loess, and ancient river gravels, with vines planted on north-facing slopes that soak up the basin’s long daylight hours. These free-draining soils are tough on the vines, but the stress they induce results in concentrated berries and deep-rooted resilience. Situated at elevation, the vineyard benefits from intense diurnal shifts - hot days followed by cold, crisp nights - which helps preserve acidity and aromatics in the fruit, especially Pinot Noir.

Alexandra is the driest sub-region in Central Otago, with very low humidity and frequent wind patterns, creating a natural buffer against disease pressure. These factors, combined with minimal irrigation and organic-influenced practices, make McArthur Ridge an ideal site for low-intervention farming. The estate continues to invest in sustainable viticulture, with an emphasis on soil health, biodiversity, and water stewardship, ensuring the land remains both productive and ecologically balanced.