At latitude 45° South, New Zealand's Central Otago is the most southerly wine region in the world. With vineyards at 200 - 400m above sea level, vines cling precariously to the steep slopes and edges of deep river gorges. This is a region of climatic extremes with typically very hot summers, short autumns and bitterly cold winter days. The soils are rocky with easy drainage and poor fertility.