the most southerly commercial wine growing area in the world Central Otago in New Zealand is also one of the most beautiful. Just to the north of Queenstown the vineyards are carved out of any available land overhanging the Kawarau River from a bridge across which the first bungee jump took place. A number of grape varieties are grown but the great hope is for Pinot Noir which responds well to the long sunny days of February and March. There is great optimism that Burgundy has finally some opposition and prices are already rising quickly.

Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south-east of the South Island. It has an area of approximately 32,000 km² (12,350 mi²), making it the country's second-largest region. In the 2001 census, it had a population of 181,542.