Mount Michael

The Mount Michael Vineyard arose out of Sue and Martin Anderson’s desire to live and run a business in Central Otago. The couple spent nearly two years finding the right site; a six hectare plot overlooking the Wanaka – Queenstown turnoff at Cromwell. An initial three-hectare vineyard was planted with approximately half Chardonnay grapes and the other half in Pinot Noir grapes.

In order to focus her initial efforts on the vineyard, Sue sold grapes from the first two years harvest to Chard Farm. By 1999, Sue felt that the vineyard was well established and the grapes had achieved sufficient quality. The first wines under the “Mount Michael” label were made by Matt Dicey of Mt Difficulty.

The Central Otago Wine Growers Association (COWA) showcased the region for the first time in London at New Zealand House. Mount Michael Wines was apart of this maiden journey to the United Kingdom, entering in the The London International Wine Challenge and awarded a Silver Medal for the 2002 Pinot Noir at the worlds largest wine competition.

After a decade the Anderson family sold Mount Michael Wines to a consortium of wine enthusiasts. With the success of Mount Michael Wines premium reserve wine was created and named after an original and most loved “employee”, Bessie. A Fox terrier and rabbit hunter of legend, she was vineyard “supervisor” for many years. Mount Michael Wines retained this reserve wine until 2016 when her name was finally retired.

Alan Scott of the aforementioned investment consortium went on to buy out his other investors from the vineyard and later that year the remaining syndicate inclusive of Peter Morrison & Debbie Laycock purchased a new seven-hectare plot in Lowburn where Mount Michael Wines found its new home.

The next generation. Tim Dunsdon & Anna Robbie together with her family acquired Mount Michael in 2015. Anna has had one foot this side of the Tasman from birth, growing up in Brisbane to kiwi parents with businesses in Otago and a large extended family across New Zealand. The 2013 vintage of Bessie’s Block Pinot Noir places Pure Elite Silver at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards. MOUNT MICHAEL