Burn Cottage was founded in 2002 by Americans Marquis and Dianne Sauvage, who fell in love with the Central Otago region during a visit to New Zealand. They purchased a 24-hectare property in the Lowburn Valley in Central Otago and decided to develop it into a top-tier vineyard.
From the outset, Burn Cottage adopted biodynamic farming practices, a holistic approach to viticulture that views the vineyard as a living organism.
This method emphasizes soil health, biodiversity and working within nature's rhythms. The Sauvages enlisted renowned viticulturist Ted Lemon of Littorai Wines in California to help manage the winemaking process and implement their vision. The suite of wines now produced by Burn Cottage
are highly regarded with their flagship Pinot Noir now one of the most collected wines of the region.