News & Reviews

Akarua awarded Top Wineries of New Zealand award

Master of Wine Bob Campbell and The Real Review team have recently released the annual Top Wineries of New Zealand list. The Real Review Top Wineries Certificate is awarded to a select group of wineries that consistently produce excellent wine. We are proud to share the news that Akarua has achieved Top Wineries status for the fifth year running. Come along to our cellar door, based on our Bannockburn Estate, to experience our great wines and unique heritage for yourself!

Harvest underway at Akarua

Harvest is in full swing here in Central Otago with our teams busy picking from the estate as grapes ripen to the perfect sweetness and acidity levels. Early season snowfall has made for cool starts, but these have been followed by beautiful clear Autumnal days. The fruit heading into our winery has our team excited for the vintage to follow, with each block showing wonderful expression of site, concentrated flavor and rich, ripe tannin. We can't wait to share our cuvee, The Siren, and our Akarua Pinot Noir with you in the future years to come.

Global Pinot Noir Masters Gold Medal

It is with great pride we announce that The Siren 2019 has been awarded a gold medal at The Global Pinot Noir Masters 2023. Wines in this prestigious event are judged blind by the finest palates in the world – a panel of Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and senior buyers only.

Akarua Pinot Noir wins Trophy and Red Wine of Show

A great achievement for Akarua with the news that our Akarua Pinot Noir 2020 was not only awarded a Trophy in the Pinot Noir Category at the Global Fine Wine Challenge, but it also took out Red Wine of Show! The Global Fine Wine Challenge is exclusive to the nations of the New World, this challenge is accessible by invitation only and is restricted to the top 120 wines of each country competing – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa & the USA. The very best selections across 22 classes are made by country representatives in light of their intimate knowledge of their own nations wines. The wines are transported to Sydney, Australia, and judged blind to discover the best that the New World has to offer. We love this review from the blind tasting given by Master of Wine, Andrea Pritzker. "Beguiling bouquet, dark cherry, stems and stalks, leafy overtones. Plush and bright with a supple expansive palate underpinned by fine slightly chalky tannins. Excellent length and persistence." 98 Points. A special thanks also to Bob Campbell for nominating this wine to be tasted for this prestigious event.

An exciting new adventure! Akarua is proud to announce new ownership under Edmond de Rothschild Heritage. 10 years after discovering the aromatic treasures of Marlborough with Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc, Edmond de Rothschild Heritage have put down roots here in Central Otago by purchasing Akarua's 52ha home estate. "‘We focused our search on Central Otago, the other Pinot Noir region, with a view to pinpointing the best soil there,’ said managing director Boris Breau. ‘With Akarua, we are adding a renowned family-run winery for over 20 years to our portfolio." Edmond de Rothschilds ambition is to optimise Akarua’s outstanding potential in order to produce the country’s finest Pinot Noir from a single estate, to create elegant wines and exceptional cuvée, selected from extremely high-quality parcels or from special vinification.

Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc 2021 has won a gold medal in The Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters. This award was granted January 2023.

Akarua The Siren Pinot Noir 2018

"A barrel selection of wine made from the best parcels of the Cairnmuir Road home block. Intense, complex pinot noir with plum, dark berry, floral and wood-smoke with a signature of wild thyme. An elegant wine with layers of different flavours. Well-structured with obvious cellaring potential," 95 points, Bob Campbell MW, October 2021

Akarua Pinot Noir 2020

"Restrained voluptuousness with Black Doris plum, cassis, floral, violet and spice, thyme and anise flavours. Rich, smooth-textured wine that is a pleasure to taste. Gobs of fruit supported by enough acid and tannins to prevent any sense of cloying. A well-made wine that measures up to its predecessors," 95 points, Bob Campbell MW, Oct 21

Akarua Pinot Noir 2020

Dark, even, light ruby-red with some depth. The nose is elegantly powerful with classic Central Otago Pinot Noir nuances of black and red cherries, blackberries and blueberries, entwined with dark herbs, thyme, black pepper and toasty oak spice details. Full-bodied, dark cherries with bramble along with dark herbs and oak spices. The fruit is rich and intense in aromas, interweaved with fine-grained tannin extraction, providing support alongside toasty oak and alcohol power. Complexing details of dark herbs, spices and earth unfolding as its aerated. Warming alcohol carries spices and liquorice to a lengthy and robust finish. Match with grilled lamb and venison over the next 5 years. Fermented to 14% alc, aged 11 months in French oak barriques, unfined. Vegan friendly. Candice Chow, August 2020, 18.5/20 pts