<i>‘Never heard of Waitaki? You're not alone. The fledgling region in North Otago is on the margins of viticultural possibility and that's kept the hordes away and forced some early entrants – including Craggy Range – to abandon their endeavors. The limestone-based soils lured the region's pioneers here and the handful that have endured their victories and defeats have made some truly elegant Pinot Noir.<p>Jim Jerram, the co-founder of Ostler Vineyards, is one of those pioneers. He planted 8ha of vines on a limestone-based slope in 2001, after 29 years as a GP. ‘We saw the site and thought it was a mini Côte d'Or. It’s on an escarpment too, above the main valley floor, so we get away from frost pockets,’ he said.<p>Ostler's 2008 Caroline's Vineyard Pinot Noir was the first vintage to make an impression, followed by excellent 2009 and 2010 efforts. After a slightly skeletal example in the cool 2011 vintage, showing the precariousness of

The great families of the industry form long-chain dynasties, with an aristocratic order of precedence and so on. If your name is Rothschild or Bollinger or Penfold and you come from the wine industry side of the family, you inherit special genetic consideration, thanks to your ancestors.<p>In New Zealand, one of the oldest and best-known wine families is that of Corban's. Their name and label goes back a hundred or more years. And like many of the Australian 'wine royalty', younger members of the family are now striking out to make their own names in the business. Like Jeremy Corban who, with partner-in-wine (and life) Katherine Jacobs, has rapidly built a strong reputation with Big Sky Wines in Martinborough.<p>Most Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc lovers already know Martinborough. Before Central Otago rose to prominence, Martinborough was the hub of New Zealand Pinot Noir and it remains arguably the premier region, with makers like A

<p>A family-owned estate rich in viticultural tradition which has been operating continuously since 1300! In the 19th century the estate came to be one of the most notable in Chinon before phylloxera reduced the holdings to just over 1 hectare of Clos de Turpenay. Since 1988, Etienne de Bonnaventure took over the farming of that 1 hectare assuming all viticulture and winemaking responsibilities and has grown the estate to its current 18 hectares, all situated on Chinon&rsquo;s plateaux. Planted mostly to Cabernet Franc (with a little Chenin blanc making both Chinon blanc and Touraine blanc) particular care is taken to re-plant using selection massale as they have done for generations.</p> <p>The vineyards are organically farmed since 1997, being the first in the appellation to be certified organic, all grapes are hand-harvested and vinification follows a non-interventionalist path. Coulaine&rsquo;s low yields result in deeply concentrat

<p>Brendan and Laura Carter sure have hit the ground running with their Unico Zelo wines (founded 2012); a confluence of interesting booze, considered and intelligent rationalisation about winemaking decisions, experimental enthusiasm and an affordability that many others of a similar ilk seem to overlook. Lots of ticks. <strong>Mike Bennie, The Wine Front.</strong></p>