It’s this trade-off of acid for tannin that makes pinot noir so food friendly. Pinot works well with salmon and ocean trout, their (Omega 3-rich) oiliness lapped up by pinots exuberant acidity and is the perfect red with soft brie-style and washed-rind cheeses, coming into its own with blue cheese. Try a soft Saint Augur cheese from the Auvergne with the Celsius Pinot Noir for a new flavour sensation.

Deep bright ruby red in colour, Devil's Staircase Pinot Noir is a dizzying fusion of firm fruit, tempting spices and alluring earthen notes. Each drop of this wine is bursting with flavours of black Doris plums, blueberries and bramble fruit that leave one wanting for more. It is characterized as a fruity, rich and full wine with finely balanced acid and firm tannins. The supple richness of Rockburn Devils Staircase Pinot Noir complements a range of savoury dishes. It can be tried alongside game birds such as quail, turkey and duck, or with a fillet of New Zealand salmon.

Rapaura Springs have turned plenty of heads with their current releases - the Reserve Pinot Noir is little short of jaw dropping. Drinking beautifully now expect a nose that's ripe, plush and jammed full of seductive fruit and spice smells, while textbook silky mouth-feel leads to a long fine finish. Drink it with five spice duck and rice.

Rudi Bauer is part of the reason Central Otago is on the Pinot Wine Map so prominently. His Pinot's show great depth of colour with aromas of forest floor, earth and mouth filling flavours of berry and cherry fruits.

Remarkable in name and remarkable in nature. Hailing from the young, funky and cool region of Central Otago this Pinot Noir shows all the cherry richness we've come to expect. Add in the sheer approachability courtesy of the smattering of strawberry and red berry flavours and the silken, soft finish and you have an Otago bargain that is a must try.

Mt Difficulty is one of Central Otago's oldest and most prestigious vineyards. Having tamed the rugged region since 1992, Mt Difficulty produce wines of utmost character and charm. Their Roaring Meg Pinot Noir shows lovely perfumed blackberry and dark cherry fruits along with a hint of spice. On the palate the wine has a sweet berry character along with balanced, ripe textural tannins that rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine.

A Central Otago Pinot with earthiness and depth to wallow in. The pristine cool-climate along with long sun drenched days allowed the fruit to ripen magnificently and produce aromas of deep red cherry, blackberry and cocoa. In the mouth the Squealing Pig is rich and generous with velvet like tannins and a wonderful, long finish.

Long Gully Pinot Noir is handcrafted in very limited quantities and only released in outstanding vintages. Crisp blackberry and Bing cherry interplay with baronial floral notes alongside an assemblage of sweet brown spices. These same lifted dark cherry and berry notes dominate the entry onto the palate; theres a classic Long Gully dense mid-palate with flow and texture. The wine finishes strongly with a lovely tension present right through the fine-grained tannins and spicy dark berry fruit. Mt Difficulty Long Gully Pinot Noir will improve for 10 15 years given optimal cellaring conditions.

Central Otago Pinot's are generally more user-friendly than Burgundy; Rabbit Ranch is very soft fruit-forward style with soft tannins; best enjoyed young.