Akarua Pinot Noir Central Otago 2022

Akarua is a distinguished winery located in the heart of Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand. Established in 1996 by Sir Clifford Skeggs and his family, Akarua has become renowned for producing exceptional Pinot Noir, among other varietals. The name ‘Akarua’ translates as ‘two vines’ in Māori, reflecting the initial planting of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the estate.

10 years after the founding of Rimapere in Marlborough, Edmond de Rothschild Heritage acquired the Akarua brand, winery, and 34 hectare vineyard in 2022.
Drawing on the know-how of local teams and on its own international winemaking expertise, the new owner’s ambition is to nurture Akarua’s outstanding potential in order to produce the country’s finest pinot noir from a single estate.

The grapes were hand harvested from their Bannockburn vineyards, during the first two weeks of April 2022. The fruit was mostly destemmed with a small portion of whole cluster component, and batch fermented on skins for around three weeks using a combination of indigenous and selected yeast strains in open-top fermenters. The resulting wine was gently pressed to medium-plus toast French oak barrels (including 20% new oak) for 9 months maturation before being bottled unfined an unfiltered.