"A dead-ringer for grand cru Burgundy"
says Halliday's Wine companion 2026, as Felton Road marks 30 vintages.
"I almost feel like Felton Road should need no introduction by now. If two decades of excellence isn't enough to convince you to try these wines, what more can I say?"
Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
“This is one of New Zealand’s most admired Pinot producers.”
Decanter
Both of Felton Road's Pinot Noirs are breakthrough efforts in New Zealand, and compete with the finest wines being made in California, Oregon and Burgundy's Cote D'Or."
Robert M. Parker, Jr, The Wine Advocate
“This high-flying Central Otago producer earned consistently top scores for most of its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.”
Bob Campbell, The Real Review
“It is undeniable that Felton Road is one of the finest New World producers of pinot noir and a benchmark for those seeking the best that New Zealand wines have to offer.”
Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Join us as Felton Road Winemaker, Blair Walter, hosts two Felton Road events at Lamont’s Cottesloe:
a 13-wine masterclass and a 14-wine, four-course dinner, including…
Museum Release Block 1 Riesling 2013
The New Release Bannockburn chardonnay 2025
Block 6 Chardonnay - 2021 | 2024
Bannockburn Pinot Noir - 2015*| 2024 | 2025
Cornish Point Pinot Noir - 2021 | 2025
Block 3 Pinot Noir - 2015* | 2017 | 2025
The 2024 vintage release of the Calvert Pinot Noir & MacMuir Pinot Noir
* Dinner Wine List Exclusive
Monday, July 27th
Hosted by Blair Walter
Masterclass: 5.30–7pm | 13 wines & canapés | $145
Dinner: 7.30–9.30pm | 14 wines and 4 courses | $245
Felton Road in Context
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The story begins in 1990, when founder Stewart Elms decided, at 50-something, to give up his blackcurrant farming business and pursue his dream to make great pinot noir. In 1992, after graduating from Lincoln University, he bought a block of land on Felton Road, and on a north-facing valley cut into the Bannockburn hills, began planting the Elms vineyard.
Stewart sold the winery in 2000 to UK-expat Nigel Greening, who shared a similar ambition and had already acquired the nearby Cornish Point apricot orchard for his own pinot project. Blair stayed on as winemaker, and with Nigel, has continued to build on Felton Road’s reputation as both a regional pioneer and benchmark pinot noir producer.
Today, Felton Road has 34ha under vine (of which 75 per cent is pinot noir, and the rest chardonnay and riesling) across four sites: Elms, Cornish Point, MacMuir and Calvert – the latter two were officially purchased in 2010 and 2013 respectively, although both farmed by the winery since 2001. From this fruit, six pinot noirs, three chardonnays and three rieslings are produced.
Because site expression is paramount, winemaking is kept simple, the fruit vinified in much the same way – wild fermentation, around 25 per cent whole bunch, moderately long time on skins, no fining, filtration, or cold stabiliation, etc. “It’s a pretty boring place to work,” Blair jokes.
Felton Road is also known for its sustainability leadership. As well as managing the estate biodynamically since 2002 (certified since 2010), and investing in low-impact technology such as drones, one of their more notable practices is the long-term use of lightweight bottles, now down to just 390g.
“It used to be an absolute no-no for premium wine brands to use lightweight bottles, but we've always been fully committed to being as sustainable as we possibly can,” Blair says.
“We’re committed to our sites and the pursuit of quality, and we’re not distracted by a need to increase production or introduce a second label. We’ve always just been focused on producing the best wines that we can off our estate.”
Excerpt from Halliday Wine Companion 2026 ‘A dead-ringer for grand cru Burgundy: Felton Road marks 30 vintages’ by Anna Webster.
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Blair Walter has been at the helm of Felton Road since inception in 1997 and their 12,000 case annual production is carefully distributed to over 40 countries worldwide. While it’s their Pinot Noirs that capture most of the limelight, there has always been a strong focus on Chardonnay and honing the unique Central Otago style.
Blair grew up on a farm in rural Waikato and studied Horticultural Science at Lincoln University (Canterbury, N.Z.). His penultimate year of study was spent at Oregon State University where he was involved in their viticulture program and wine sensory evaluation panels. Previous vintage and winemaking experience includes vineyards and wineries in New Zealand, Australia, California, Oregon and Burgundy.
Blair started at Felton Road in 1996, planning and readying the winery for its inaugural vintage in 1997. His skill and wide experience as winemaker brought a minimalist approach: making wines in the simplest, gentlest, most hands-free way possible. Regular visits to other winemaking regions of the world helps Blair keeps abreast of his peers, while indulging in the joy of seeing how far Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can be taken by the established masters of the craft.
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Felton Road has been in The Real Review’s New Zealand top 10 every year since the ranking began, with its lowest position sixth. The winery became the first back-to-back winner after taking #1 in both 2024 and 2025.
The Real Review New Zealand Winery of the Year 2025
The Real Review New Zealand Winery of the Year 2024
“I cannot think of a more deserving winery occupying the top slot.”
Bob Campbell#3 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2023
#5 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2022
#3 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2021
#4 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2020
#3 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 20212024 Golden Vines Sustainability Award, voted/assessed within one of the world’s leading fine-wine awards programmes.
World’s Most Admired Wine Brands, Drinks International:
#19 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2023
Felton Road placed 19th in the world and was the top-ranked New Zealand winery in Drinks International’s World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2023.
#19 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2022
#14 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2021
#24 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2020
#12 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2019
# 9 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2018
#13 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2017Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines 2018, with the 2016 Cornish Point Pinot Noir reportedly placed #12.
Felton Road’s Blair Walter and Nigel Greening
The Real Review’s Consecutive Winery of the Year New Zealand
Felton Road has been in The Real Review’s New Zealand top 10 every year since the ranking began, with its lowest position sixth. The winery became the first back-to-back winner after taking #1 in both 2024 and 2025.
“In the case of Felton Road, there is such sheer concentration and power underneath that there is no doubt the wines will age gracefully into complex, beguiling old bottles over time.”
- Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review
11 Wines over a period of 10 years have consistently scored 95 points or more about 90% of the time… Quite Extraordinary!!!
The Real Review’s Points in Context
Rieslings, Chardonnays & Pinot Noirs
It is undeniable that Felton Road is one of the finest New World producers of pinot noir and a benchmark for those seeking the best that New Zealand wines have to offer.
Founder Nigel Greening and winemaker Blair Walter have built the world-famous wine brand around fastidious site selection and viticulture (Demeter and Biogro Certified Biodynamic) and a range of wines that are not only beautifully crafted and compete effortlessly on the world stage, but speak so clearly of the intricacies of their Central Otago vineyards.
The emphasis is on transparency of site and minimal intervention – great farming, gravity flow winery, wild yeasts, wild malo and no fining or filtration. An inspiring producer of the highest caliber.
Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
The Dinner Wine List & Menu
On Arrival
2013 Felton Road Block 1
First Course
2025 Felton Road Chardonnay Bannockburn [New Release]
2024 Felton Road Chardonnay Block 6
Taut and mineral with oyster shell and white flowers. Lots of power on the palate, really long and driven while being racy. Excellent depth here with white fruit and stark, high contrast flavours. Floral but also compact and intense. This will evolve slowly over the next decade and a half. Impressive chardonnay.
97 points, Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review
2021 Felton Road Chardonnay Block 6
Second Course
2025 Felton Road Pinot Noir Bannockburn [New Release]
2024 Felton Road Pinot Noir Bannockburn
This wine makes my heart beat faster. It is delicate yet powerful, ethereal but wonderfully harmonious. I love its beautifully nuanced array of flavours that are displayed like the colours on a peacock's tail and linger long after the wine has been swallowed. I have a cast-iron rule that prevents me from swallowing wine samples during tastings. I managed to stick to my guns. It wasn't easy.
96 points, Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review
2015 Felton Road Pinot Noir Bannockburn
A wine that really acts like the village wine for Felton Road with a number of vineyards contributing to an overall look and feel of the vintage, and this is full of pleasure. Smells super bright and fragrant with rose-like perfume, mulberries, boysenberries, poached strawberries and cherry compote. A little spice and bracken and some flurries of toasty oak. The palate's silky and creamy, flowing on velvety tannins, while the acidity holds ripe plum and cherry flavors vibrant and tangy. Drink now. Almost drinks itself!
94 points, Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
Third Course
2024 Felton Road Pinot Noir Calvert Point
2025 Felton Road Pinot Noir Cornish Point [New Release]
2021 Felton Road Pinot Noir Cornish Point
Fourth Course
2024 Felton Road Pinot Noir MacMuir
2025 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 3 [New Release]
2017 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 3
2015 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 3