Perched on a dramatic terrace above the Kawarau River Gorge, Chard Farm is both a landmark and a lifework. Established in 1987 by Rob Hay, one of Central Otago’s viticultural pioneers, the estate brought vision and tenacity to a region then barely known for wine. What began as a bold hillside experiment has become one of New Zealand’s most admired expressions of Pinot Noir and alpine terroir.

Chard Farm’s vineyards stretch across several sub-regions of Central Otago, including the home site on the Pisa subregion's rugged slopes, and premium plots in Parkburn and Lowburn. Each site contributes distinct attributes: schist-laced soils, cool continental climate, and long daylight hours yield fruit of vivid energy, precision, and finesse. The estate is guided by sustainable principles, embracing low-intervention viticulture to reflect place and season with unforced clarity.

In the winery, Chard Farm balances tradition with restraint. Grapes are handpicked, gently sorted, and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Pinot Noir takes centre stage, crafted with minimal extraction and sensitive oak aging to preserve its ethereal fragrance and layered structure. Whites—especially Pinot Gris and Riesling—are equally compelling, marked by tension, texture, and crystalline purity.

The portfolio is anchored by “Finla Mor” Pinot Noir, sourced from the Lowburn and Parkburn vineyards—velvety, aromatic, and finely structured. “Vipers Vineyard” Pinot Noir, from an elevated site with schist and clay soils, offers darker fruit tones and structural edge. The Riesling “Mason’s Vineyard” showcases lime zest and wet stone, a piercing evocation of site and season.

What defines Chard Farm is not only its vineyards, but its emotional landscape: a place where risk, resilience, and refinement coalesce. From the serpentine road that leads to the estate, to the wines that carry its name, Chard Farm captures the tension and beauty of Central Otago with clarity and grace.

Each bottle carries the wind-carved edge of the South Island—intimate, wild, and quietly profound.