Wineries and Vineyards in Queenstown
Wine-lovers, discover the great tastes of cool-climate wine in Queenstown! Located along the breathtaking Kawarau Gorge, Gibbston and the nearby Lake Hayes are Queenstown’s main winemaking districts. Gibbston is the pioneering area of the Central Otago winemaking region, with the first commercial bottling occurring here in 1987. There are many fantastic wineries to sample some of Queenstown’s best, where you can expect lighter wines from the north-facing hillside vines that ripen later than neighbouring sub-regions. See which wineries to visit with this list of wineries in Queenstown!
While you’re here, you might also be interested in 9 Great Winery Tours in New Zealand and 10 Queenstown Must-Dos. Plus, don’t forget to book a place to stay from The 50 Best Accommodations in Queenstown.
1. Amisfield Winery
A fantastic winery to pop into for lunch or dinner is the Amisfield Winery & Bistro. Amisfield specialises in Pinot Noir, as well as white wine varietals grown in their single estate winery. The cellar door and bistro are open daily.
Location: 10 Lake Hayes Road, Lake Hayes
© Olivier Colas on Wikipedia2. Brennan Wines
Sit down with a cheese platter from local artisans accompanied with a glass of wine at Brennan Wines. The family-owned winery and vineyard is definitely one to add to your Queenstown winery-crawl itinerary. The cellar door is open daily.
Location: 86 Gibbston Back Road, Gibbston
© Pxhere3. Chard Farm
An excellent winery to hit simply for tastings is Chard Farm. Try their speciality Pinot Noirs, as well as cool-climate whites that New Zealand is renowned for. Pop into the cellar door which is open daily.
Location: Chard Road, State Highway 6, Gibbston
© profernity on Flickr4. Gibbston Valley Wines
One of the big wine names in Queenstown, Gibbston Valley Wines boasts a number of experiences including winery tours. Inside their “Wine Cave”, enjoy informative wine tastings, visit their gift shop and sample cheese from their cheesery along with other cuisines at their restaurant. You can also visit their tasting room in Arrowtown (28 Buckingham Street). Both tasting rooms are open daily.
Location: State Highway 6, Gibbston
© clelessincollege on Flickr5. Hawkshead
A tasting room with a difference, the Kinross General Store also offers wine tastings of Hawkshead wines. Hawkshead has a number of award-winning wines well worth treating your tastebuds to.
Location: Kinross General Store, 2300 Gibbston Highway, State Highway 6, Gibbston
© NZPocketGuide.com6. Mt Rosa Wines
The winery and vineyard might have used to be a high country sheep station, but Mt Rosa still holds its Kiwi countryside charm. Mt Rosa produces a wide range of wines from its 35 hectares (68 acres) of vineyards, so there’s something for every type of wine-o. Enjoy a casual wine tasting in their converted woolshed, open daily.
Location: 91 Gibbston Back Road, Gibbston
© Jocelyn Kinghorn on Flickr7. Peregrine Wines
Visit this contemporary cellar door shaped like a peregrine in flight, at the award-winning Peregrine Wines. TastePinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose and Methode Traditionelle and savour the sights of their barrel room. The winery is a great addition to any winery tour. The cellar door is open daily.
Location: State Highway 6, Gibbston
© missbossy on Flickr8. Stoneridge Estate
This boutique winery and restaurant provides amazing views of Lake Hayes. After trying their outstanding Pinot Gris, Rose and Pinot Noir, take the time to wander around the beautiful gardens and chapel. The tasting room is open daily from November to April.
Location: 756 State Highway 6, Lake Hayes
© Alex2104 on Wikipedia9. Mount Edward
This privately-owned family winery welcomes visitors but is only open by appointment. Mount Edward focuses on organically produced small-batch wines. It’s an interesting one for wine connoisseurs, as their wines are also exported to the UK and Australia.
Location: Coal Pit Road, Gibbston
© Bengt Nyman on Wikipedia10. Valli Vineyards
Another winery that is only open by appointment, Valli Vineyards is the private label of the renowned winemaker, Grant Taylor. Try some of their exclusive premium wines with only a limited production. Plus, for more wineries to visit nearby, see our 10 Wonderful Wineries in Cromwell.
Location: Gibbston
© pxhereMore About Wineries in New Zealand
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
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