In 1985 after three years of research and extended interviews Anne Cook of Kawarau Gorge’s Waitiri Station published The Gibbston Story.

She seamlessly captured the area’s rich history and the many personalities who contributed to the early development and growth of Gibbston. So popular was the book there was a clamouring for an updated version and by 2015 Anne was seriously considering a reprint.

She recognised the area had undergone significant change during that period transforming from a farming community into an international winegrowing region and it needed to be recorded to prevent Gibbston’s legacy disappearing.

Sadly Anne died unexpectedly in 2017 and the project was placed on hold.

Enter Anne’s husband John who during the Covid lockdown began to toy with the idea of continuing her work.

“I had the time and the excuse to start looking at all the research in the wine boxes she had stored away and also found she had also done some initial work on her computer, designing the book’s layout.”

John picked up the mantel and while he credits the updated The Gibbston Story as being Anne’s work since she conducted most of the research John has personally written of changes between 1985 and today.

“I have also added many stories that couldn’t be included in the first book but can now be recorded. Modern research methods have also allowed me to add a more detailed history.”

Gibbston was key to the launch of the Central Otago wine industry and the book includes an overview of its development since the first grapes were planted in the 1980s, contributed by well-known wine personality Tim Morrison Deaker.

The book’s cover is designed by Anne and John’s daughter Jocie Lacey, an accomplished graphic designer.

The Gibbston Story by Anne & John Cook is available from Cromwell Paper Plus or by emailing cookjanda@gmail.com