Andy.
A charmer with an infectious laugh.
A lover of bush walks and sharing a fine wine with friends and family.
A winemaker with a true affinity for Central Otago.
What began as an idea from a collective of blokes to honour their friend has turned into a world-class Central Otago Pinot Noir. ‘Andy’ Pinot Noir 2020 is a fitting tribute to the life, legacy and talent of beloved Central Otago winemaker Andy Anderson.
With the decision to honour Andy by making this wine, we wanted to make him proud. But creating a tribute to Andy has been no easy task. After all, he took home the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s Best Pinot Noir trophy – two years in a row with grapes sourced from Bannockburn and then Gibbston. And, proving that good things come in threes, he also took home the New Zealand Producer of the Year trophy from the same two years in the same competition.
This is a wine we hope he would proudly hold on the international podium and call his own. The fruit was handpicked from selected blocks in Gibbston Valley, the coolest of the Central Otago subregions. Andy’s old stomping grounds proffered the grapes with Matapari, Brennan and Takapoto Vineyards contributing the fruit. The result is a classic Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir: appealing, silky, and sophisticated.
It’s worth noting that Andy’s indelible impression on those around him is what brought this wine to life. Everyone involved in its creation has donated their skills, grapes, winemaking and time to create a tangible legacy for a great man. True to his infectious enthusiasm and generous spirit, proceeds from this wine will fund a scholarship in Andy’s name at Lincoln University.
©Stuff Limited 2019. Photo reused with permission.
Andy | Pinot Noir | 2020
This limited-edition Pinot Noir is an expression of Gibbston – a place Andy loved.
The ‘Andy’ Pinot Noir 2020 is crafted from 100% Gibbston Pinot Noir. Gibbston is the original appellation of Central Otago and is one of the most awarded regions for Pinot Noir in New Zealand.
The vineyards of Gibbston experience 1000 growing degree-days per season and, on average, 700mm of rain. The soils of Gibbston provide its uniqueness, and the vines of Gibbston respond with perfumed, silky Pinot that often shows signs of blue and red fruit characteristics like tamarillo and blueberries. Aromas of fresh woody herbs, rosemary and purple sage are balanced with earthy tones.
The Andy Pinot was grown from two of the oldest and warmest vineyards in Gibbston. Matapari vineyard is the lowest elevation vineyard, while the Brennan ‘home’ block is one of the oldest vineyards. The 2020 vintage was a classic for Gibbston vineyards: graceful and poised. You can download the tasting notes here.
If you are interested in purchasing the Andy 2020 Pinot Noir click the button below.
Reviews
95 Points - Outstanding
Review by Cameron Douglas
camdouglasms.com
A bouquet of place and time with a complex, fine savoury core surrounded by red berry fruit and plum scents, layers of barrel spices with nutmeg, cinnamon, dusty clove then fallen leaves with a touch of smoke. Complex and developing. Taut, youthful and delicious on the palate with flavours of soil and spice, red berry fruits, plum and minerality. The dramatic landscapes of the hills that frame the valley below seem to speak with the savoury dried herb voice and rocky saline mineral qualities. Firm tannins and plenty of acidity set the foundation and frame the wine nicely. Core fruit flavours are persistent weaving through the wine seamlessly. Well made, youthful still and offer excellent drinking from today if you like or best from 2024 through 2030.
94 Points
Review by Bob Campbell
Wine by Bob Campbell
It is an extraordinary story. I have never met Andy Anderson but feel I know him through his reputation as a winemaker and, of course, his wines. Andy Anderson graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology degree in 1999. For the next decade or so he travelled the world working for wineries in several different countries. Winemaking graduates frequently hit the road to gain valuable practical experience.
Returning to New Zealand Andy, with his future wife Nikki, bought a wine shop, Cambridge Fine Wines. Read more
Rick Nelson -Director The Winery
This (The Andy Pinot Noir) was the top pick from our team in a blind Pinot Noir tasting, only I knew it was somewhere in the lineup. One of the wines was showing young and very spritzy and I knew The Andy was the youngest in the flight ....a lot of relief for me when we eventually revealed the bottles! Our team of 12 were unanimous in The Andy being the best Pinot, which included a couple of Central Otago wines from 2017, a vintage we really loved. They were all good wines but The Andy stood out above them, it's drinking wonderfully already, it's going to be even more special to share in the years ahead.
The Andy Anderson Memorial Scholarship in Viticulture and Oenology.
This scholarship has been set up by all who have contributed to the project by buying the Andy Wine. The funds generated will be used to provide a $10,000 annual scholarship at Lincoln University in the Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology degree programme for a third-year student to allow them to do a vintage in Central Otago which is a prerequisite to the completion of the degree course. The payment will fund the cost of their course fees and travel expenses, and it is intended to offer the scholarship for 10 years. It will be called the Andy Anderson Memorial Scholarship in Viticulture and Oenology.
Details on how to apply for the scholarship coming soon.
Stories of Andy & his legacy
We have put together in this part of the website, a selection of stories about Andy, which in essence, describe the sort of man he was. Always cheerful, fun loving and generous, but driven perhaps even obsessive about wine, which by its implications, means he was destined to be really successful at winemaking, and on an international platform no less. The fact he was able to gather around him, people who also believed in him, supported him and provided the opportunities to make this happen, cannot be underestimated nor ignored.
Andy was an outlaw; he went out and got into trouble with the law.
Even a large country thought so and especially dads credit card.
He didn’t really adhere to any rules. To know him was to sign on not as a friend but as an accomplice. Instead of vowing to honour and respect, you were more aiding and abetting.
A lesson from Andy
Andy was one of those guys that would draw you in with cheerful energy, a cheeky sense of humour and genuine care for other’s wellbeing.
I often remember hearing Andy’s laugh before you saw him
Such was his infectious humour that it would often precede him before he entered the room. I meet Andy during a great year of study at Lincoln University.
The Three Musketeers
At Andy’s home for a special dinner and event Saturday 13th October and Sunday 14th October 2018. These two were special friends, work colleagues and graduates of the same Batchelor of Viticulture and Oenology Programme, Lincoln University. They have been known as the “Three Musketeers” of the wine world of New Zealand.
Christmas Festivities
Andy and Nikki at their home at Lake Karapiro and just about to start the festivities with a bottle of nature’s best product – Champagne!!! – for Christmas 2018. Andy & Nikki were hosting a gathering of all the families from both sides of the Tasman to celebrate a special but poignant Christmas.
Ripening Grapes, Legends Vineyard, Bannockburn, Central Otago
Legends Terrace, Bannockburn, Central Otago taken in February 2019 before the vintage took place. These two rows contributed grapes to the first of Andy’s winning wines on the world stage with the making of the Takapoto Estate 2012 Pinot Noir from Bannockburn.
Andy was known for his many one-liners…
When Andy would be trying a new wine, he'd swirl the contents of his glass, breathe in the aromatics, then in his best English gentleman's accent proclaim - "Mmmm, a cheeky little number, not at all presumptuous."
Andy the comedian, always had great timing…
I can still hear his best baritone vocals echoing off the stone walls of this old winery. Andy’s perennially sunnily disposition was hallmarked by his regular breaking into song.
Andy Anderson: World’s Best Pinot Noir, Twice.
It was one of the great wine stories of 2017. But it has been matched in 2018, with Anderson taking out the exact same trophies for World’s Best Pinot Noir, with his Gibbston Valley 2014 Pinot Noir. Photo ©Stuff Limited 2019. Photo reused with permission.
Andy Anderson has just won the Oscars of the wine world, for the second time.
2018 - His prize Pinot Noir from Takapoto Estate has taken the trophy at the International Wine and Spirit awards in London.
Another big win for winemaker
Karapiro winemaker Andy Anderson has good reason to feel jubilant over his latest win.
With Thanks
Mitchell & Kate Plaw of Takapoto Estate
Mikayla Plaw of Takapoto Estate
Sean Brennan of Brennan Wines, Gibbston Valley, Central Otago
Timbo Morrison-Deaker of Viticultura, Cromwell, Central Otago
Jase Thomson of Viticultura, Cromwell, Central Otago
Alex Coldicutt of Takapoto Estate, Cambridge
Alaina Rhind of Millimetre Press, Christchurch
Hayden Maskell of Maskell Copywriting, Greytown
Mark Rose of Pegasus Bay Wines & Elsewhere Gin, North Canterbury
Zoe Rose of Elsewhere Gin, North Canterbury
Rob Cameron of Invivo Wines, Auckland
Tim Lightbourne of Invivo Wines, Auckland
Cameron Douglas of CAMDOUGLASMS.com
Bob Campbell of Bob Campbell Master of Wine
Naomi Wilde of Lincoln University, Lincoln, Christchurch
Bernard Newman, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Christchurch
Sandra Fairhurst – Cambridge
Without all of these amazing people none of this would have been possible.