8 of the best Central Otago wineries
Central Otago is a wine region in the South Island of New Zealand. Bordered by the Southern Alps and lakes Wanaka and Wakatipu, it’s one of the most scenic wine regions in the country.
Central Otago spans flat plateaus thick with alpine meadows and sliced by deep blue rivers. It’s a beautiful region well-suited to rustic cellar doors and vineyard restaurants with views across the golden-hued valleys.
The best Central Otago wineries are roughly clustered along the road from Queenstown to Wanaka, via Cromwell, with more near Alexandra as well.
This is prime Pinot Noir country, thanks to hot, dry summers and cold winters.
If you’re just getting familiar with the Central Otago area, I’ve outlined the sub regions below — if you’d like to skip straight to the vineyards, feel free to jump ahead.
Central Otago winery map
This map (roughly) outlines the Central Otago wine regions.
There are six wine-producing sub-regions in Central Otago; the Cromwell Basin, Bendigo, Bannockburn, Gibbston, Alexandra and Wānaka.
Gibbston is the valley along the Kawerau River between Queenstown and Cromwell, famous for bright, acidic Pinot Noir. This is the coolest and highest of the Central Otago sub regions. When people talk about wineries near Queenstown, they are most often referring to the vineyards along this valley.
Bannockburn is an area just to the south of Cromwell, with warm, dry summers that result in more robust and structured Pinot Noir. The notable warmth of the area led to Bannockburn being dubbed the “heart of the desert” by the gold miners arriving into the region in the 1860s.
Bendigo, around the northern end of Lake Dunstan, is known for its varied soils and wide temperature range, cultivates a diverse range of grape varietals, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
Alexandra, the southernmost subregion, experiences a slightly warmer climate, producing wines with a unique balance of elegance and intensity.
What wine is Central Otago known for?
Central Otago Pinot Noir is often described as having flavours of dark cherry, plum, spice, and subtle earthy undertones. The wines typically have a silky texture, vibrant acidity, and a long, persistent finish.
Chardonnays from the region often exhibit flavors of green apple, citrus, and a lovely minerality.
There are few large Central Otago wineries — among the biggest are are Chard Farm, Mount Difficulty, Akarua, Peregrine, Amisfield, and Carrick, but even these vineyards are comparatively small.
Most wineries are boutique producers, which makes for lovely cellar door visits.
The best Central Otago wineries for cellar door tastings
Queenstown, Wanaka, and Cromwell all make great bases for exploring Central Otago vineyards, along with a bevy of other adventure activities.
1. Rippon, Wanaka
Tasting cost: Free, by appointment
Location: 10 minutes from Wanaka town centre
The view from Rippon across Lake Wanaka
Rippon is a stunningly scenic vineyard located on a large block of schist on the slopes above Lake Wanaka. The view from Rippon is as stunning as the wines they produce.
Rippon’s Pinot Noirs have delicate berry fruit and red cherry notes.
They offer both ‘mature’ and ‘jeunesse’ wines. The older vines date back to the 80s, an impressive feat for New Zealand, and give a different tasting experience to the livelier, vibrant jeunesse wines.
Located just 10 minutes from the centre of Wanaka township, a tasting at Rippon is easily one of the best things to do in the area.
Better still, cellar door tastings are free — just make an appointment via their website.
2. Kinross Winery & Cellar Door, Gibbston
If you only have time for one cellar door stop, Kinross is a fantastic option. This cellar door is a collaboration between five small producers; Kinross Winery, Coal Pit, Hawkshead, Valli and Wild Irishman.
Valli Wine produces single-origin wines from across Gibbston, Bendigo, Bannockburn and Waitaki, so sampling these wines gives you a tour of the entire Central Otago terroir.
The courtyard at Kinross is also a beautiful spot for lunch. You could easily while away several hours here.
3. Mount Edward, Gibbston
Mount Edward’s motto is ‘Grow your own way.’
These are words they live by. Mount Edward have forged a path as one of New Zealand’s most avant-garde wineries. Not only were they the first in the country to make vermouth, they happily have wine on tap, adopted minimal sulpher and skin contact early on, and continuously look for techniques and styles to produce individual wines.
Mount Edward makes small batch wines from single vineyard, organic sites around Central Otago.
The Mount Edward Clockwork Orange, and the chenin blanc are highlights.
Maori Point Wines
A Bendigo winery located alongside the Clutha River, Māori Point uses only grapes grown on-site, as well as native wild yeasts from the vineyard for their fermentation, minimal sulphites, and low yields.
Their approach is minimal intervention and terroir driven — making their vintages a perfect evocation of the place.
They’re best known for their velvety pinot noirs, but also have some unique varieties such as a sparkling pinot gris and a pinot noir bottled in beer bottles.
Quartz Reef
Te Kano Estate
Te Kano Estate is an incredible collision of wine, art, architecture, and beautiful landscapes.
The cellar door here is possibly the most striking in the whole Central Otago region, cantilevered out toward the Kawarau River with vast windows looking to the mountains beyond.
Tip: If you want to go for a walk after visiting Te Kano Estate (or Mt Difficulty wines directly opposite) check out the Bannockburn Sluicings. This 90 minute walk through a rocky desert is one of the best short tracks in the area, in a very unique landscape.
Carrick Winery
Carrick Winery is an excellent winery to visit for lunch, with a lush setting overlooking the Bannockburn inlet and a seasonal menu.
The certified organic winery makes Rieslings and wild fermented wine with no sulphites.
Quartz Reef’s Rudi Bauer has been tapping into the full potential of his quartz- dominant Central Otago terroir. Not only does he make a growing range of singular pinot noirs, but his sparkling wines also excel, he crafts a serious pinot gris, and perhaps unsurprising given his Austrian roots, a great gruner veltliner.
Try: Quartz Reef Single Ferment Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020, $90
Felton Road
Felton Road makes wines from organic, biodynamically managed vineyards in Bannockburn.
Felton Road’s Bannockburn Central Otago blends grapes from all four vineyards.
Thyme Hill
Dunstan Road Wines
Thanks for reading this far! I hope you found some inspiration for Central Otago wineries to visit.
If you’re exploring the area around Queenstown, you might also be interested in checking one of these out before you go:
The best restaurants in Queenstown (including vineyard restaurants)
A road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown, through the Gibbston area
And if you love wine, you should definitely explore Waiheke Island:
