A Stay Above the Vines at Clos Ostler
Updated: 4 days ago
From the Vineyard Suites at Clos Ostler, the eye follows the rows of vines down the hillside and out across the Waitaki Valley. Beyond them, the braided Waitaki River moves through the landscape towards the Pacific. The slope where the wines grow is immediately below, with the valley and its changing weather in view beyond.
Each private, off-grid suite accommodates two guests, with a deck and an outdoor bath overlooking the vineyard. A bottle of Clos Ostler welcomes you on arrival. Opening it within sight of its source is a simple pleasure, and an opportunity to spend longer with a wine than a brief tasting usually allows.
The vineyard in view
Clos Ostler is a family-owned monopole, a single vineyard under one ownership, near Duntroon in North Otago. Pinot Noir forms its principal planting, alongside Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. The vines occupy a north-facing limestone hillside, where a long, cool growing season gives each vintage its particular character.
From above the rows, the contours of the north-facing slope become clear. Along the vineyard wall, ribbed scallop shells remain visible in the limestone boulders. Beyond this enclosed planting, the Waitaki carries waters from Aoraki’s catchment towards the Pacific.
Over an evening, the wines offer a closer acquaintance with the place. Caroline’s brings together all five Pinot Noir clones, while EOS concentrates on perfume, power and silky texture. Their herbal and floral detail continues to unfold as the bottle opens.
A few days in the Waitaki
Begin in Duntroon at the Museum of the Vanished World. Its collection includes whale and dolphin fossils, mostly found within twenty kilometres of the village. These animals inhabited seas that once covered this country. Their remains give the phrase “marine limestone” a tangible meaning, and place the vineyard within a landscape whose history extends far beyond the vines.
The Vanished World Trail continues that story outdoors. At Anatini, a whale fossil remains in the rock; Elephant Rocks reveals the rounded forms left as limestone weathers. Visiting the museum before these sites gives you something to look for in the stone. Back at the estate, the pale escarpment and the wall around the clos become part of the same regional story.
The Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail offers another perspective on the landscape between the mountains and the coast, while Ōamaru’s historic streets make a rewarding excursion. Dedicated bike storage is available at the suites.
Return with time for the evening. Dinner can be prepared on the BBQ, followed by a glass on the deck as the light moves across the river. The accommodation is designed for privacy within a working vineyard, with the surroundings left to set the pace.
When you open a bottle of Clos Ostler afterwards, the place on the label may feel more familiar. You have seen the vineyard through a day’s changing light and watched the valley beyond it. That memory becomes part of returning to the wine.
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