High Garden Vineyard Pinot Noir

Situated at between 420 and 490 metres of altitude High Garden is the highest vineyard in Gibbston, Central Otago’s coolest sub region. It has great exposure to long sunshine hours. During the critical ripening month of April, sunshine hours are roughly 90 minutes longer than at the bottom of the valley. The vineyard slopes down towards the north allowing for the free draining of both air, which minimizes frost risk, and water; although the vines are now dry land farmed.

  • In the coolest subregion of Gibbston, the Pinot Noirs evoke descriptions like: ethereal, transparent, pretty, floral, and herbal; Gibbston is typically the last place to harvest its grapes- it can be late as May and yet alcohol levels rarely breach 13.5% ABV and acidity is mouth watering.

    Rebecca Gibb MW
    Author of The Wines of New Zealand

  • At their best Gibbston Pinots are the most complete Pinot Noirs in Central Otago, delivering a dense midpalate and great length as well as admirable austerity thanks to Gibbston’s coolness.

    Matt Kramer
    In the Wine Spectator

  • High Garden is the highest vineyard in Gibbston, on schist rock soils sloping towards the north with very long sunshine hours, making it one of the warmest sites in the coolest subregion for Pinot Noir.

    Robin Tedder MW
    Vigneron

About us

Planted twenty years ago with a combination of clones on low vigour rootstock, the vineyard is hand tended with great attention paid to canopy management and individual vine health in order to focus purely on grape quality.

The High Garden Pinot Noir vineyard is owned and the fruit grown by Robin Tedder. Robin has been growing grapes and making wine since 1993. He became a Master of Wine in 1997. The Viticulturist is Gary Crabbe, a highly experienced Viticulturist and a graduate of Lincoln. The Winemaker is Jennifer Parr, NZ Winemaker of the Year 2020.