About Augustines of Central
Award-winning New Zealand fruit preserves, jams and chutneys handmade with love, right here in the heart of Central Otago.
Augustines of Central is a boutique fruit bottling company, producing a range of unique and award-winning fruit preserves, jams and chutneys.
Local food producer Gus (Augustine) Hayden created Augustines of Central to showcase the beauty of our local fruit and produce while keeping traditional methods alive - giving every kiwi the chance to have a taste of Central Otago for themselves. From fruit picking to production of the preserves and jams, Gus is involved in every process and makes sure you get the best quality product, no matter your favourite.
Augustines of Central Success so far
In 2023, Gus’s Blackcurrants in Cassis won a Special Award (Outstanding New Product Award - Boutique Producer) at the Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards. Gus’s preserved apricots, black doris plums and his apricot date chutney all won gold medals at the 2021 Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards. He was also a finalist in the 2022 NZ Food Awards.
Augustine’s (Gus’s) home has been Wanaka for nearly a decade and from the start we have tried to source most products locally. In 2022, Gus and his family moved to Portobello to live and work on Gus’s parent’s farm. For Gus, it is essential to build relationships with his growers and ensure customers are always getting the best fruit at their optimal growing stage. He works with his growers to make sure he gets the right fruit for the right product at just the right time.
Our business structure relies on ‘family first’. Gus’s parents are growers and input new ideas and occasionally are also his harshest critics. Gus’s sister and his partner take care of the graphic and marketing work.
Don’t miss getting your hands on our award-winning products as they always come in small batches and sell out fast!
Augustines of Portobello Tasting Room – Experience Our Artisan Preserves
In November 2024, Gus and his partner Jana opened Augustines of Portobello, envisioning it as a dedicated tasting room to showcase the Augustines of Central jams, chutneys, and fruit preserves.
Discover Augustines of Portobello, a hidden gem on the Otago Peninsula, just 20 minutes from Dunedin CBD. Our café (Farmstore & Kitchen) offers a carefully curated menu of seasonal pastries, cakes, and fresh, local flavours.
Enjoy favourites like the famous Black Doris or Blueberry Lamington, fruit-filled Danishes with preserved plums, apricots, and more, or the Feijoa Meringue Tart and Apricot & Ginger cake. The small, bespoke main menu features Gus’s artisan preserves. A standout on our menu is the Mezze Platter, bursting with fresh seasonal vegetables, chutneys, and pickles. Another must-try is our weekly toast—fresh homemade sourdough topped with seasonal creations such as smoked mackerel or black peaches.
