Central Otago is the world's southernmost wine region and Gibbston Valley, just 20 minutes from Queenstown, is its beating heart. The pinot noir here has built an international reputation since the first commercial vines went in back in 1987, and the mix of cold winters and dry, warm summers keeps producing award winning drops. Whether you want a self-guided afternoon hopping between cellar doors or a private driver and a table booked at your favourite winery restaurant, here is what is actually pouring around Queenstown.
Wine Hopper Bus with Queenstown Wine Trail
The Wine Hopper Bus with Queenstown Wine Trail is the flexible, budget-friendly way to see Gibbston Valley, an air-conditioned van running an hourly circuit between up to six wineries including Gibbston Valley, Kinross, Cargo and Wet Jacket. Your on-bus guide knows which cellar doors are pouring the good stuff that day, and you set your own pace, hopping off for a tasting or lunch and catching the next van through. Tasting fees and food are extra, budget on $10 to $15 per cellar door. Allow five hours.
Half Day Boutique Wine Tour
The Half Day Boutique Wine Tour with Appellation Wine Tours takes a small group through Gibbston, Bannockburn and Cromwell in a luxury Mercedes Benz vehicle, with tastings at four boutique vineyards and a platter style lunch at a vineyard restaurant included. Your guide keeps the group capped at 11 people so the best vineyards can be chosen on the day, and there is a stop at old Cromwell Town if time allows. Allow 5.5 hours.
Private Food and Wine Tour, Gibbston Valley
The Private Food and Wine Tour is built for couples or small groups who want their own guide and vehicle rather than sharing a van. It departs late afternoon so your morning stays free, calling at three boutique wineries such as Gibbston Valley Winery, Mora Wine and Kinross before a proper a la carte lunch at your preferred winery restaurant. A minimum of two people is required to book. Allow 4.5 hours.
Queenstown Half Day Craft Beer Tour
The Queenstown Half Day Craft Beer Tour swaps cellar doors for tasting rooms, visiting three local breweries around Lake Hayes and historic Arrowtown for 13 or more tastings and a lunch matched with beer. Wine and cider are on hand too if beer is not your thing, and kids are welcome on board with food and soft drink provided while the adults taste. Allow 4.5 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Queenstown wine tour for a tight budget?
The Wine Hopper Bus is the cheapest option, a self-guided circuit between up to six Gibbston Valley wineries where tasting fees are the only extra cost.
Which wine tour is best for a special occasion?
The Private Food and Wine Tour gives you an exclusive guide and vehicle, three winery visits and an a la carte lunch, ideal for a couple wanting flexibility and privacy over a shared group tour.
Can kids come on a Queenstown wine tour?
Most Gibbston Valley wine tours are geared towards adults, though the Half Day Craft Beer Tour welcomes kids on board with food and a soft drink provided while the adults taste.
Do I need to book winery visits in advance?
Yes, all four tours here run on set schedules or require a minimum group size, so book ahead, especially the Private Food and Wine Tour and the Wine Hopper Bus, which needs a minimum of four people to depart.
Is alcohol tasting included in the tour price?
It depends on the tour. The Boutique Wine Tour and Private Food and Wine Tour include tastings in the price, while the Wine Hopper Bus charges tasting fees separately at each cellar door.
Local tip: cellar doors in Gibbston Valley get busy from midday onward in summer, so an early Wine Hopper Bus departure or a guided tour with a set itinerary means you beat the tour bus crowds to the good tables.
Book your Queenstown food and wine experience above and taste why Central Otago's pinot noir has the world talking.