Winemaker Notes
Amisfield Vineyards is a producer of fine wine from the Lowburn area of New Zealand's Central Otago region. The region is renowned for producing world class Pinot Noir and aromatic white wines. Amisfield Farm was a high country sheep station located 7km north of lowburn on the shores of Lake Dunstan. Nestled between Amisfield and Parkburn streams planting commenced in 1999 and now consists of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Each vineyard block is purposely grown as a component contributing layers of complexity to the overall blend.
Amisfield's overriding winemaking philosophy revolves around the fact that quality wine is grown not made. Clean ripe fruit is hand picked and destemmed into open topped fermenters. After a week or so pre-ferment soaking of wild yeasts in the winery begin fermentation. Once dry, the skins are gently pressed and run off to tight grained French Oak barrels and matured in underground cellars.
The style is classic Central Otago Pinot, dark cherry and spice aromas lead to a richly fruited palate with fine silky tannins. Drinking well on release and can be cellarred for up to 5 years from vintage.
Amisfield was established in 1988 and is a Central Otago based specialist producer of Pinot Noir and aromatic white wines, sourced from fruit grown on their Single Vineyard Estate, situated beneath the glacially sculptured Pisa mountain range.
Vineyards are managed holistically through organic practices focused around nurturing Amisfield’s unique soils, vines and habitats - this combined with a rugged inland location and an extreme semi-continental climate, yields wines of remarkable purity, intensity and vibrancy.
A state-of-the-art purpose built winery is the focal point of the vineyard and is designed to enable winemakers to craft wines with minimal intervention and as naturally as possible.