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Quartz Reef

Welcome

HISTORY

Central Otago is New Zealand's youngest and most dynamic wine region. Our first release was in 1998, and in this short period we have already gained international recognition.

The largest quartz reef deposit in New Zealand lies beneath the vines at Bendigo Station. From 1862 the historic town of Bendigo was mined.

Now the sun-drenched north facing slopes are set to become famous again - for the production of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chauvet - the methode traditionelle of Quartz Reef. There are currently 15ha under cultivation.

The Quartz Reef corporate identity represents the heart of the company and reflects the vision, passion and commitment to the wines.

The 'c' stands for Chauvet and the 'b' stands for Bauer. These elements embody the South Pacific influence, and the blue wave represents Lake Dunstan. Clotilde Chauvet, Rudi Bauer, Trevor Scott and John Perriam are principal partners.

Bendigo is a new viticultural sub-region of Central Otago, and the north-sloping Quartz Reef Bendigo Estate Vineyard has recently released its first single vineyard vintage.

THE WINEMAKERS

Quartz Reef applies the proven winemaking talents of Austrian-born Rudi Bauer, who continues to enjoy & explore the Pinot Noir's many dimensions, and the convergence of the old and the new wine worlds.

Clotilde Chauvet made the first sparkling wine in Central Otago and her family has been making Champagne since 1529 - her wealth of experience is reflected in the Quartz Reef Methode Traditionelle.

Clotilde trained as winemaker at Montpellier from 1986 to 1990, and worked on vintages at Beaune (France) and Domain Chandon (Australia) before coming to Rippon.

Rudi arrived in New Zealand in 1985, after gaining degrees in Austria and Germany, in both viticulture and winemaking. He worked at Misson, Rippon and Geisen (doing vintages in his off-seasons in California and Oregon), before forming Quartz Reef in 1996 with Clotilde and their partners.

Rudi describes their label as reflecting the old and the new - the history in the region and in the 400 years of winemaking by the Chauvet family, whose confidence that the region could produce excellent sparkling wine was the foundation for the venture.

He has produced a number of medal and trophy-winning wines over the years and was named Champion Winemaker of the Year in 1999 at the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand Easter Wine Show.