Nestled between Arrowtown and Queenstown, Ayrburn has entered a tasty new era, combining Central Otago’s farming heritage with its relatively new-found reputation as one of the world’s great cool climate wine regions.
The estate is home to wine today but can trace its roots back to 1864, when Scottish settler William Paterson established the property and named it after his birthplace of Ayr, combining it with the Scottish word ‘burn’ for the creek that flows through the land.
This week I had the privilege of tasting through Ayrburn’s extensive range of new releases and while the quality is universally high across the range, it’s the Riesling and the Rosé that took me by surprise with their precision and purity.
The Ayrburn story today is that of the Winton Group, whose members have reimagined Ayrburn as a hospitality destination. While the historic (and now beautifully restored) stone buildings honour the property’s past, the wines look to the future with grapes from around the region and winemaking overseen by Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW.
A taste of Ayrburn's new releases
19/20
2026 Ayrburn Central Otago Riesling RRP $40
Central Otago makes a compelling case for dry Riesling (4.2 grams per litre of residual sugar, in this case) so all of this wine’s concentrated citrus flavours with impressive purity and precision are a matter of viticulture and Riesling’s innate depth. The very cool climate of the deep south definitely has an edge, as it shines through in this wine’s aromas of lemon blossom, lime zest and white peach lead into flavours of lemon, green apple, mandarin and intense lemon zest. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, with refreshing natural acidity driving a long, dry finish. This is an excellent expression of cool climate Riesling that drinks beautifully now and has the structure to evolve gracefully for 10 years+.
19/20
2026 Ayrburn Bessie’s Central Otago Rosé RRP $55
This exceptional rosé showcases Central Otago Pinot Noir from a fresh new perspective with a blanc de noirs-inspired approach. Aromas of wild strawberry, rose petals and a balanced note of citrus lead into a layered palate brimming with delicate red fruit flavours. Silky, precise and refreshing, this wine balances delicacy with impressive flavour intensity and speaks confidently of its southern origins in its long, fresh finish.
