Central Otago’s finest wines, local cuisine and warm hospitality...

September 3, 2024

·

Written by Andy Crozier

Exclusive Pre-Release Offer: ROAM – Central Otago Pinot Noir Discovery

We are delighted to extend an exclusive invitation to join us for Roam Central 2025 - a celebration of Central Otago’s finest wines, local cuisine and warm hospitality. Hosted in one of the world’s most dramatic and inspiring wine regions, Roam Central 2025 offers a rare chance to connect with the region’s top winemakers and producers. Mark your calendars for 15 & 16 February 2025 and get ready to embark on a wine adventure.

Exclusive Pre-Release Offer

As a member of our community, we are pleased to offer you pre-release tickets for the Weekend Explorer Pass. Step into the heart of Central Otago and prepare to be taken on an unforgettable journey.

Included in your VIP Weekend Explorer Pass is access to all the Roam Central 2025 events, including:

Day 1 – Saturday 15 February

A Wine Exploration Event: Immerse yourself in a curated wine experience including lunch, located at venues across Central Otago. Select from four bespoke events, outlined below, to attend your ideal day of wine discovery.

Welcome Dinner: An intimate evening awaits, where you’ll mingle with local winemakers and producers, surrounded by exceptional wines and flavours of Central Otago.

Day 2 – Sunday 16 February

Two Exclusive Presentations: Engage with two thought-provoking sessions, featuring topics that take a deep dive into Central Otago and our place in the world of fine Pinot Noir (topics and speakers to be announced).

Lunch in the Vines: Savour lunch at Amisfield Estate nestled at the foothills of the Pisa Range, complemented by breathtaking vineyard views.

Grand Tasting: Embark on a wine journey in the unparalleled setting of the Amisfield barrel hall, where more than 25 esteemed producers will showcase their wines.

Finale Dinner Party: Conclude your weekend with an evening of fun, frivolity and celebration.

Additional VIP perks:

Transport to and from your Cromwell accommodation for all events

Exceptional culinary delights throughout the weekend

The chance to meet and converse with producers from over 25 of Central Otago’s finest wineries

Wine Exploration Events - Saturday 15 February, 11am – 4pm

Experience the best of Central Otago as our wineries collaborate to offer you an unforgettable experience. Choose from four bespoke events:

Mount Edward, Valli, Maude, Gibbston Valley, Dicey, Mike Wolfenden & Olivia Ross

Old Hands, New Minds

Vintage to Avant-Garde

Shapeshift Central Otago Wine

A Sensory Wine Experience with Mount Edward at the original Felton Homestead on Felton Road, Bannockburn. In collaboration with icons Valli, Gibbston Valley and Maude we are joined by the region's most exciting new labels in Dicey and young guns Mike Wolfenden (ex-Felton Road) and Olivia Ross (ex-Burn Cottage) as they release their first wines. We will be reimagining wine culture, a tasting and format like none other, through the super-premium, vintage wines, numerous first releases to the avant-garde wines of Central Otago, all alongside a culinary adventure with music, friends and plenty of laughter. Unmissable, limited spaces.

Venue: Felton Towers, 320 Felton Road, Bannockburn

Felton Road & Quartz Reef

Bannockburn v. Bendigo

Blair v. Bauer

The Battle of Two Biodynamic Winegrowers

Blair Walter and Rudi Bauer have conspired to present a tasting of six Felton Road and six Quartz Reef Pinot Noirs. Join them as they present their journeys in Central Otago and friendship forged over the last three (+) decades. This unique tasting will be followed by an exquisite vineyard lunch with matched wines from the wineries’ cellars, where older vintages and large formats will abound.

Venue: Felton Road, 319 Felton Road, Bannockburn

Prophet’s Rock & Rippon

Mountain Rock

Join two of the region’s gnarliest winegrowers, Paul Pujol and Nick Mills, high in the hills of Bendigo to drink and talk mountain wines, mountain lives, running amok in France and the finer details of Solid Rock. Hosted at Prophet’s Rock winery, you’ll taste through not-to-miss flights from both wineries and hope to discover what was going on in these guys’ heads at the time. A relaxed lunch follows, accompanied by rare, large-format gems from the cellars. Truly unique wines, exceptional views, ridiculous stories.

Venue: Prophet’s Rock, 138C Bendigo Loop Road, Bendigo

Folding Hill & Wild Irishman

Vine & Dine: A Wine and Culinary Celebration

Enjoy vertical tastings of Pinot Noir vintages from 2008 onwards and delve into discussions about the evolution of these wines and the development of their secondary and tertiary characteristics. Chardonnay will also be on offer, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for this grape variety. Enjoy a spectacular multi-course dining experience crafted by celebrity chef Judith Cullen, highlighting the finest local Otago produce (and as much from near Bendigo as possible). The aim is to minimise the distance between production and consumption but maximise the flavour!

Venue: Folding Hill Wine Company, 445 Bendigo Loop Road, Bendigo

Pre-Release Price

We are delighted to offer you the Weekend Explorer Pass at a special pre-release price of $1450 including GST plus $83.94 Eventbrite Booking fee. From 11 September the regular price of $1599 will apply.

How to Secure Your Weekend Explorer Pass

To take advantage of this special pre-release offer, please purchase your tickets through Eventbrite. Enter the code: COWineVIP to unlock the tickets. Please note that this offer is only available until 11 September. With limited availability for the Saturday Wine Exploration events, we advise acting quickly to secure your preferred option before it sells out.

A second ticket option will be available at a later date, providing access to Sunday’s day activities with the choice to add on a Saturday Wine Exploration event. The Sunday day pass will cost $460 (plus additional Eventbrite fee), and the Saturday add-on will be an additional $250.

Accommodation

Accommodation options for those attending Roam Central, including discount codes, can be found below. It’s a busy month in Cromwell so we highly recommend booking your accommodation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The Harvest Hotel

Address: 6 Barry Ave, Cromwell, Central Otago, 9342

Website: https://www.thegate.nz/hotel

Contact: stay@thegate.nz

Mention “Central Otago Winegrowers” to receive a group rate of $240 per night.

The Marsden Lake Resort Central Otago

Address: 15-23 Perriam Place, Pisa Moorings, Cromwell 9383

Website: https://www.marsdenhotels.co.nz/lakeresort

Contact: fom@lakeresort.co.nz

Mention “Roam Central” to access special room rates starting from $215 per night.

Carrick Lodge

Address: 10 Barry Avenue, Cromwell 9310