The best wineries in Central Otago

It’s no secret that Central Otago wines are among the most celebrated in the world.

Best known for our pinot noir and pinot gris, the Central Otago (including Wanaka and Queenstown) region is home to more than 120 vineyards that have produced, and continue to produce, hundreds of award-winning wines.

It’s little wonder then, that people from all over the world come to Wanaka and Queenstown to experience the beauty of our land and the best wineries in Central Otago.

There’s a winery for everyone – whether you’re a discerning wine professional, you want a more personalized chat with the wine maker at the cellar door, or you’re on holiday with the family and want to bring the kids – Central Otago, Wanaka and Queenstown wineries are extremely accommodating.

At Wanaka Wine Tours, we tailor our tours to each season and the requirements of our guests.

Travelling in our brand new, spacious Ford Transit Tourneo six-seat van, or our late-model eight-seat Toyota Hiace Grand Cabin, we pick you up in style from your Wanaka accommodation and make our way across the region, visiting down-to-earth Kiwi winemakers who love sharing their stories with wine enthusiasts.

On our journey we’ll tell you all about the Wanaka and Central Otago region, and why it’s been so successful for New Zealand’s relatively young wine industry. Here it’s all about our bright sunny days, cool nights and long, dry autumns – plus our soils – that make our wines so special. And the climates vary throughout Wanaka, Queenstown and Central Otago, so pinot noir can be distinctly different across the region.

You’ll sample a variety of Central Otago’s world-famous pinot noir wines, as well as rose, chardonnay, pinot gris and Rieslings, plus we make sure you’re fed along the way. We stop at some fantastic wineries that serve superb local food that’s expertly matched with wines.

Our tours include a half-day boutique wine tour, where we visit four local wineries for tastings (including food pairings at one winery), and a Classic wine tour with lunch. The full-day tour is an unhurried, relaxing amble through Central Otago – not only will you sample up to six of our region’s best wines, but you’ll also stop at historic landmarks and scenic points along the way. A winery tour is the perfect activity if you’ve come to Wanaka or Queenstown and want to relax and enjoy our beautiful scenery, delicious food and incredible wine.

We are also equipped to take children, with a range of car seats that can fit in our vans.

If you’re keen to hear more about the Central Otago wine region, we’d love to chat. We know our stuff and have great relationships with wine makers in the Wanaka and Central Otago region.