The best Queenstown wineries for tastings, lunch & views
Queenstown is a short drive from my favourite wine region in New Zealand. Here are some of the top vineyards to sip pinot noir and enjoy lunch.
The cellar door at Kinross
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Between Queenstown and its smaller Central Otago neighbour, Cromwell, lies the Gibbston wine region. Along the bottom of the valley, the bright blue Kawarau River; along the sides, rocky, arid slopes which seem at first glance as if they would be too barren to grow grapes.
Indeed, grape vines struggle in the thin layers of schist and fine, silty soils; but as it goes, it’s the suffering that produces good wine.
A long, slow ripening season gives the fruit plenty of time to develop complex flavours. Large temperature swings between hot days and cold nights give the wines of the valley acidity and freshness.
If words like alluvial loess mean very little to you, not to worry. All you need to know is that light-bodied Pinot Noir is the most beloved variety in these parts (the region is often compared to Burgundy).
And, of course, the wine production that happens here happens against a backdrop of mountainous beauty. A half day visiting wineries near Queenstown is time well spent.
How to visit Queenstown’s wineries
Queenstown’s cellar doors are too spread out to visit without a tour, an electric bike, or another form of transport.
Take a winery tour
Although there are a number of different Queenstown wine tours, there isn’t a huge amount of variation in what they provide – most visit some combination of Gibbston Valley, Amisfield, Kinross, Mt Rosa, Mora, and Ayrburn.
The tastings are under the control of the wineries, so the differences in the tours come down to the commentary offered and the comfort of the transport.
Prices are roughly the same across the board as well, expect to pay between $250-$280 per person for 3-4 wineries.
Southern Discoveries has the most unique offering, visiting a selection of boutique wineries (Chard Farm, Brennan Wines, Waitiri Creek, and Nockie’s Palette) which is a refreshing change from the standard line up.
Family-owned Queenstown Wine Trail is a great option, with the original wine tour ticking off three of the best; Gibbston Valley, Kinross, and Mt Rosa. This is one of the most affordable options, at $199 for a 5 hour tour.
If you want to go beyond the Gibbston sub-region, Appellation Wine Tours covers Cromwell and Bannockburn on their Boutique Wine Tour, which costs $279 per person, including tastings at 4 wineries and a platter lunch.
Wine Hopper Shuttle
If the transport side of things isn’t a huge factor in your decision, you may want to consider the Wine Hopper shuttle (operated by Queenstown Wine Trail).
The bus leaves once a day, at 12pm, but offers a lot of flexibility with which wineries you visit. Going at your own pace, you can discuss your preferred winery stops and pickup locations with your guide – in effect getting a customised tour itinerary.
From $99 per person, for transport only (tasting fees and food are extra once you reach the wineries)
Bike the wineries
Views of the river from along the Gibbston River Wine Trail
The Gibbston River Trail starts from the Kawarau Bridge and covers just under 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) of the valley, following cliffs high above the bright blue ribbon of water.
The trail runs right past the most famous wineries in the area – Gibbston Valley, Mount Edward, Kinross, and Mt Rosa – as well as the Gibbston Tavern and The Church Cellar Door and Cafe.
Around the Basin offers bike and e-bike rental, with options to start from Arrowtown or Queenstown (with a shuttle to the starting point in Arrowtown). Prices from $110 for a full day rental for a standard bike, and $160 for an e-bike.
Self driving
My recommendation, if you do want to visit vineyards under your own steam, is to head to Kinross for the tasting (which is so comprehensive it’s hard to follow up) and Mt Rosa to settle in to enjoy the view accompanied with a platter and wine by the glass. And possibly stop by Mora for lunch, one of the days you’re in Queenstown.
It goes without saying that you need a sober driver to explore the vineyards independently, with a vehicle.
Kinross Winery & Cellar Door
The gold standard of wine tasting in the valley, Kinross produces its own wine, but the cellar door incorporates tastings of five other boutique local wineries like Coal Pit, Hawkshead, Valli and Wild Irishman.
That means you can journey through the region in one sitting. What really makes the tastings at Kinross memorable, though, is the passion in the delivery. The team at the architecturally beautiful cellar door are unfailingly enthusiastic, with deep knowledge of the area that they are keen to impart.
Our tasting was in a private room, with just me and my travel partner, and the guy delivering the tasting. From our seats we could see vines out the window that grew the grapes that had ended up in the bottles in front of us.
The focus was on Pinot Noir, of course, but I also loved hearing about the whole history of the region — delivered with the help of an adorable slideshow up on a screen.
Be careful if you start off with Kinross as your first tasting; you will almost surely be disappointed by any other tasting that follows. The bistro at Kinross is also a good option for lunch, meaning that if you can only pick one winery to visit, this is your best option.
Tastings start from $25 per person, bookings encouraged.
Mt Rosa Wines
Hand picked grapes from the single estate vineyard help to make quality wines, but what gives Mt Rosa a truly unique flavour is the laid back nature of the owners.
The owner Guy is a frequent presence at the cellar door – you may catch him there spinning yarns, or spot him doing laps of the vineyard in his tractor.
The cellar door itself is styled to look like a woolshed, and is fittingly charming. There’s a sunny courtyard where you can sit in summer, and a toasty fire inside in winter. It’s the kind of place you can settle into for a while, to enjoy the views of the craggy ridge that rises up behind the winery.
The tasting experience here tends to be a little less guided than Kinross – simply ordering wine by the glass and possibly a platter to share is a better way of tasting Mt Rosa wines.
Tastings start from $25 per person, bookings encouraged.
Mora Wines
A restaurant and cellar door near Arrowtown, Mora is better visited as a restaurant, so you can sit and enjoy a leisurely long lunch of seasonal food in a romantic courtyard setting.
There are recommended wine pairings to go with each dish on the menu, which makes for a lovely way to sample wines offering a window into a year in the life of the Central Otago region.
Although the menu was a little on the meaty side — beef and lamb are well represented — I was still well fed and happy as a vegetarian.
I didn’t do a tasting here, but I tried both of their Rieslings (of course) and loved them.
Mora is also a great option if you want to enjoy wine without committing to a wine tour, or if you’re on a budget. There’s a public bus stop right outside, which will get you to and from Queenstown without needing to drive or book a tour.
Peregrine
I once spoke to the owner of Peregrine for a story I was writing about using sheep as lawnmowers in vineyards; he was warm and kind, with a clear commitment to organic viticulture.
That, along with the beautiful wing-shaped cellar door building, thoroughly endears me to Peregrine.
There is something almost James Bond-like about the underground cellar door, with the barrel hall displaying long rows of warmly-lit wooden barrels. This winery produces excellent white wines (a favourite of mine is the dry Riesling) if you’re overwhelmed by the Pinot Noir of the region. As part of an ongoing commitment to the environment, Peregrine donates 25% of tasting fees to support conservation efforts for native birds.
Mount Edward
Organic, family-owned Mount Edward makes small batch wines from single vineyard sites. This is a winery unafraid to be a little different; they were the first in New Zealand to make vermouth, they have wine on tap, and were early adopters of skin contact and minimal sulphur.
The cellar door experience is a little different too, in that it’s a friendly, approachable, and personal tasting, with no pretence. Just great wine.
Tastings start from $40 per person, bookings encouraged.
Chard Farm
Image via Chard Farm
Possibly the most scenic of the region’s wineries, Chard Farm is reached via a precipitous 2 kilometre gravel road. The vineyard is set on a rocky ledge above the Kawarau River; the dusky rose-coloured winery building cuts a distinct figure against the mountainous backdrop.
Gibbston Valley
The vineyard where it all began, Gibbston Valley released Central Otago's first commercial vintage in 198.
Irishman Alan Brady was responsible for planting the first grapes in 1981, ignoring all conventional advice that Central Otago was too cold. Brady has since retired from the busy Gibbston Valley winery, but keeps his hand in the game with the very boutique Wild Irishman label, available for tasting at Kinross.
As for Gibbston Valley, it has gone from strength to strength, now offering a restaurant, wine cave, cheesery, and luxury accommodation alongside the cellar door.
With such a production, Gibbston Valley can feel a little more commercial and a little less personal than some of the other wineries in the area. It’s also a cornerstone stop for almost all Queenstown wine tours; so expect it to be busy most of the time.
The Classic Cave Tour, which includes tastings, starts from $28. Limited departure times, bookings required. Alternatively the cellar door offers self-guided tastings, with no booking required.
Amisfield
Amisfield is one of the more famous Queenstown wineries, but my least favourite place to do a tasting
Possibly the most luxurious of the wineries near Queenstown, Amisfield has become just as famous for the degustation menu presented by chef Vaughan Mabee, where the menu reads as a long list of ingredients, and sometimes just places, rather than dishes.
Items include ‘wild hare,’ ‘the whole beast,’ and ‘rocks.’ The result is sometimes provocative. Eel is served alongside an eel skeleton. Wild boar mortadella is shaped to look like a boar’s snout. They don’t promise to cater to vegetarians.
If you’re unwilling to spend $595 per person for dinner, with an optional $395 for the wine pairing, you can drop by the imposing schist stone and black glass cellar door for a tasting.
At $35, the tasting here is more expensive than other Gibbston wineries, and I found it to be less personal (more of a do it yourself experience, where you are given tasting notes to read).
Although the wines themselves were interesting, I far preferred the enthusiasm and welcoming nature of Kinross.
Mt Difficulty Winery
Mt Difficulty is in Bannockburn, around 50 minutes drive from Queenstown. It’s worth the trip for the views alone.
You can just stop by the cellar door but I would recommend enjoying a glass of wine in their restaurant. The outdoor terrace is has a sweeping view of the surrounding vines and orchards. It’s one of the best Queenstown wineries for simply relaxing and enjoying the view.
Mt Difficulty is most renowned for its Pinot Noir production. Their Pinot Noirs often exhibit red and dark berry fruit characteristics with a subtle spiciness.
I also really enjoyed the rose at this vineyard, which felt like the perfect wine to drink in April sunshine while overlooking the Bannockburn Valley.
Queenstown and Central Otago itineraries
You can include a visit to Queenstown’s wineries on a South Island itinerary that travels through Queenstown. Here are a few examples:
AUTHOR BIO
I’m a freelance travel writer from New Zealand with bylines in National Geographic Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and more.
I’ve travelled up and down beautiful Aotearoa and I love sharing my recommendations for the best places to visit in New Zealand.
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