11 of the best Queenstown wineries to visit
Queenstown is a short drive from one of the most scenic wine regions in New Zealand. Here are some of the top vineyards to sip pinot noir and enjoy lunch.
The cellar door at Kinross
Central Otago is hands down my favourite wine region in New Zealand.
Not only is the Pinot Noir from the area excellent (suffering inflicted on the vines by the harsh climate and rocky soil makes for good wine, apparently) but the scenery is just as stunning.
The blue Kawarau River flows along the bottom of the valley, and rocky hills rise around the rustic vineyard buildings.
There are plenty of wineries to choose from. The area between Queenstown and Cromwell is dense with wineries.
But, if you’re interested in a tasting, the quality varies wildly between places.
Amisfield is one of the more famous Queenstown wineries, but my least favourite place to do a tasting
Amisfield? One of the most famous vineyards? Terrible tasting.
I really, wholeheartedly, do not recommend.
Maybe we were just unlucky, but the woman running the tasting spent most of the time doing dishes and drying glasses, and we had to prod her with questions just to get the barest of information on Amisfield’s vineyard and wines.
We paid $35 to awkwardly stand at the bar sipping on wines with no introduction to what we were supposed to be tasting.
Contrast that with Kinross, where for a smaller fee of $25 we were escorted into a private room where we had a passionate guy talk us through the whole history of the area, as well as Kinross itself. When we mentioned we liked Rieslings, a variety not included in the tasting, our host dashed out and came back with a bottle of Valli Riesling — which we ended up buying, because it was so good, and exactly the kind of wine we like.
So, this is a list of my favourite cellar doors near Queenstown; vineyards I really think are worth the visit.
A heads up that this page contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission if you make a booking via those links. Thanks for your support.
Getting around the vineyards
From Queenstown, you’re within an hour’s drive of 200 Central Otago vineyards. As you can see from the map below, the wineries are quite spread out.
Most people head to the Gibbston wine region, which is the closest to Queenstown. Located between Queenstown and Cromwell, Gibbston is where you can find renowned names like Gibbston Valley Vineyard, Amisfield, and Chard Farm.
Cycle trails along the river mean that a lot of people choose to e-bike between the vineyards, but I opted for cycling the first time I visited and by the end of it was thoroughly sick of trying to pedal between wineries.
A much easier option is to choose a vineyard tour that will transport you between the wineries. The driving distances aren’t very long, and you have to worry less about how much wine you consume.
Check out Queenstown vineyard tours on Viator or just go ahead and book into this one, which I recommend!
Alternatively, a more budget-friendly option is to check out the hop-on, hop-off wine tours.
Kinross Winery & Cellar Door — if you can only go to one tasting, make it this one
Kinross is one of the best places near Queenstown to go for a wine tasting, because at the one cellar door you can taste wines from small, independent vineyards like Coal Pit, Hawkshead, Valli and Wild Irishman.
That makes it a great place to go if you only have a short time to explore the region.
I also loved the tasting experience. We turned up without a booking on a cold winter day, and although we had to wait 15 minutes — I believe they run tastings on the hour — it was worth it.
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.
Mt Rosa Wines
Tasting cost | $20 for 5 wines
Food available | Snacks and platters, here’s the menu
Mt Rosa is a family owned, single estate vineyard. Hand picked grapes and a range of varietals mean Mt Rosa wines capture the essence of the region in each bottle.
The cellar door is small and friendly — it’s the kind of place you can settle into for a while and enjoy the views of the golden hills and rows of vines. Visiting Mt Rosa winery feels like having a drink at a friend’s place.
There’s a sunny courtyard where you can sit in summer, and a toasty fire in winter.
I really enjoyed drinking the rose here, and I liked the size too. It’s much more relaxed than some of the bigger wineries.
The only complaint I had about Mt Rosa is that the driveway is long and has a slight incline; really not ideal when you’ve already visited three vineyards and are trying valiantly (and somewhat drunkenly) to pedal uphill.
Mora Wines — the ideal place to enjoy a glass of local wine with lunch
Tasting cost | $15 for 5 wines
Food available | Lunch restaurant
Mora is located on the road to Arrowtown. It’s well worth a stop for a tasting at their cellar door, or lunch at their restaurant.
Mora Artisan Kitchen offers cuisine made from scratch with ingredients sourced from around the South Island.
4) Peregrine Wines
Tasting cost | Free! For 3 wines. You need to make a booking.
Food available | No food available
Peregrine Wines is instantly recognizable for the striking architecture of the cellar door building, designed to resemble the wingspan of a falcon in flight.
The building is also cool because you can see rows of barrels on display underground.
Peregrine is another vineyard with outstanding whites. I’m a huge fan of their Rieslings, which have delicious lemon curdy and nectarine notes.
Their pinot noirs are also top notch.
The cool thing about Peregrine is how they are a biodynamic vineyard.
They’re passionate about using regenerative practices in their vineyard and preserving the land, which is important given the high environmental impact of growing grapes.
I once spoke to the owners for a story I wrote about sustainable wine growing in New Zealand and they were lovely, so it’s a great vineyard to support.
5) Mt Difficulty Winery
Tasting cost | $10 per person
Food available | Restaurant for lunch
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.
6) Chard Farm
Tasting cost: Free if you buy a bottle, otherwise the cost is a donation to local charities
Photo credit New Zealand Winegrowers Inc, Chard Farm
Chard Farm is a charming winery located in the Gibbston subregion of Central Otago. One of the pioneering wineries in this region, Chard Farm is known for its picturesque location and excellent wine.
The winery is set against a backdrop of rugged, rocky cliffs, making it one of the most visually striking winery destinations near Queenstown.
Chard Farm founders, Rob and Gerdi Hay, were among the early pioneers in Central Otago's wine industry and played a significant role in establishing the region's reputation for producing exceptional Pinot Noir.
The winery offers a welcoming and relaxed tasting experience for visitors. The tasting room, housed in a rustic building, provides a cosy atmosphere to sample a range of Chard Farm wines.
8) Brennan Wines
Tasting cost | $20 for 5 wines
Food available | A range of platters are available
Brennan Wines is a small family owned and operated vineyard. All of their wines are grown and produced on site.
Attention to detail is at the heart of Brennan Wines' winemaking philosophy. From hand-picking grapes to gentle pressing and meticulous barrel selection, each step is carefully executed to ensure the highest quality.
Their limited-production approach allows for precise control over the winemaking process, resulting in wines that are a true reflection of the region's terroir.
The tasting room is set in an old vineyard shed, so it has both rustic charm and views.
9) Gibbson Valley Vineyard
Tasting cost | $20.50 to tour the biggest wine cave in New Zealand, and taste 3 wines
Food available | Gibbston Valley has a full restaurant for lunch.
Gibbston Valley Vineyard is one of the most iconic names in the region.
The winery is home to the region’s oldest vineyards, New Zealand’s largest wine cave, a bistro-style restaurant and cellar door.
Gibbston Valley was a pioneer of Pinot Noir — the first commerical release of this variety was from Gibbston Valley Winery in 1987.
One of the defining features of Gibbston Valley Vineyard is its stunning location. Set against a backdrop of rugged mountains and the tranquil Kawarau River, the vineyard offers breathtaking views.
The unique microclimate of the Gibbston Valley, characterised by long sunshine hours and cool temperatures, creates an ideal environment for grape cultivation, particularly for the renowned Pinot Noir varietal.
Because it’s more established, Gibbston Valley does feel larger and more commercial than some of the smaller vineyards in the area. With a cellar door, restaurant, and deli, it’s one of the main winery destinations near Queenstown.
This can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you see it. If you want to experience an iconic Queenstown location, go. If you want a quieter, more intimate vineyard experience, opt for Mt Rosa or Brennan instead.
Either way, the courtyard at Gibbston Valley Vineyard is a gorgeous spot to stop for lunch.
Getting around Queenstown’s wineries
It’s easy to visit Queenstown’s wineries on a day trip, or as part of a road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown.
You have three options for getting around Queenstown’s wineries:
Book a tour.
Go on a self-guided cycle tour.
Arrange your own transport.
I recommend booking a tour, or organising a taxi back and forth to just one vineyard.
I did a self-guided cycle tour of the Kawerau valley and Queenstown’s best wineries on bicycle. It was wonderful to be mobile between the vineyards. The scenery along the trail is an absolute treat.
However, by the time we got to Mt Rosa I was well and truly tipsy, and struggling to pedal up the slight hill to get to the cellar door (we did not have e-bikes) really wasn’t much fun.
I tend to find that three vineyards is about the max number of tastings I can do before I just want to sit and enjoy a glass or two in beautiful surroundings. At some point you won’t want to cycle anymore, so I would recommend getting picked up somewhere and not trying to cycle to an end point.
Or pick one spot with transport there and away, or do a wine tour that will transport you to a couple of great vineyards and help you avoid the pain of riding a bike while drunk.
If you want to go and settle in somewhere, I recommend Kinross for their selection, or Mt Difficulty for the view and general ambiance.
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.
