MONTE CHRISTO WINERY  ALEXANDRA

In the early 1860s, a young and adventurous Frenchman named Jean Désiré Féraud left his homeland in search of gold on the other side of the world. His fortunes turned favorably during the Central Otago gold rush, leading him to seek out a prime location for settling down and establishing a homestead.

Féraud chose the Alexandra Basin in Central Otago, recognizing the property's vast potential. Driven by a vision of creating a lush, fruitful haven, he set to work harnessing the land's soil and its dry climate. By 1864, through relentless effort and determination, Féraud founded Monte Christo. In doing so, he unwittingly set the stage for Central Otago’s transformation into a renowned wine region.

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50 years later, a young man named Nicholas Paris was visiting Central Otago from the United States for a family reunion.

A Master of Wine, Nicholas was keen to see Monte Christo, a historical winery he’d read about in his studies. He and his father Stanley, who grew up in Central Otago, set off in search of the estate, without success. Refusing to give up, Stanley Paris would eventually discover that the Monte Christo property was in the stewardship of his second cousin, and amazingly, the original stone winery was still standing. This incredible twist of destiny put the Paris family on a life-changing path to rejuvenate Monte Christo, honouring Féraud’s legacy as ambassadors of Central Otago’s remarkable wine region.