Queenstown Wine Tour: Two Wine Regions & Wine Cave | NZ Guide
Description
Go Beyond the Usual Queenstown Wine Tour Travel beyond the usual Gibbston wine-tour route, through the spectacular Kawarau Gorge and into Bannockburn, exploring two of Central Otago’s renowned wine regions in one day. Take in Te Kano Estate’s striking architecture and views over the Kawarau River, taste certified organic wines at Carrick Winery overlooking the stunning Bannockburn Inlet, with time for a seasonal winery lunch at your own expense, then step inside a mountain at Gibbston Valley Wines — the founding winery of the Gibbston region and home to New Zealand’s largest wine cave. Discover the landscapes, vineyards and Pinot Noir that make Central Otago one of New Zealand’s most celebrated wine regions, with a New Zealand-born Queenstown local guide sharing local knowledge along the way. Two wine regions. Three distinctive winery experiences. One day exploring Central Otago wine country. Prefer it private? Upgrade to a Private Queenstown Wine Tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Explore Central Otago wine country with Alpine Wine Tours on an adults-only small-group experience, with a maximum of 10 guests and a local New Zealand guide.
Depart Queenstown and journey into Central Otago wine country, leaving the alpine resort behind for vineyards, dramatic landscapes and renowned Pinot Noir.
If the day’s pickup route and timing allow, travel through historic Arrowtown on the journey into Central Otago wine country. Route may vary depending on guest pickup locations.
Travel through Gibbston, one of Central Otago’s best-known wine areas, surrounded by vineyards and dramatic mountain landscapes.
Journey through the dramatic Kawarau Gorge as you travel deeper into Central Otago towards the vineyards of Bannockburn.
Venture beyond the usual Gibbston wine-tour route into Bannockburn, one of Central Otago’s renowned wine-growing areas and particularly known for Pinot Noir.
Take in Te Kano Estate’s striking architecture and views over the Kawarau River while enjoying a hosted tasting of Central Otago wines. Set in Bannockburn wine country, Te Kano offers a spectacular introduction to the region and its wines. A striking blend of architecture, wine and Bannockburn scenery.
Taste certified organic Central Otago wines with a hosted tasting flight at Carrick Winery, overlooking the stunning Bannockburn Inlet. There’s time to enjoy a seasonal lunch at the winery restaurant at your own expense, surrounded by the vineyards of Bannockburn. Organic wine, seasonal food and one of Bannockburn’s most beautiful vineyard settings.
Step inside a mountain at Gibbston Valley Wines, the founding winery of the Gibbston region. Explore New Zealand’s largest wine cave, carved into the schist rock, on a guided wine cave tour followed by a tasting. An iconic Central Otago wine experience you won’t find at an ordinary cellar door.
Return to Queenstown after a relaxed day exploring two distinctive Central Otago wine regions, Bannockburn and Gibbston.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup is available from selected central Queenstown hotels. If your accommodation isn’t listed, please contact us before your tour to see if we can arrange pickup from your location. Alternatively, meet us at the Tour Operators Bus Stop, 43 Camp Street, outside Marmolada Cafe. Your exact pickup time and details will be confirmed after booking.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Exclusively for adults (18 and over)
- Boutique small-group tour (maximum 10 guests)
- Drinking age in New Zealand is 18 years
Reviews(221)
Emma was a fantastic tour guide, very knowledgeable and friendly! Can’t recommend her enough. Thank you for a fabulous day full of learning and tasting 😊
Thank you so much Elysha for the lovely review! It was such a pleasure having you all along for the day. I’m so glad you enjoyed the wines, discovered a little more about Central Otago wine, and had a fabulous day exploring our beautiful wine country with me. Cheers, Emma Alpine Wine Tours
The guide was terrific and full of information.
Thank you for the great review! I’m so pleased you enjoyed the tour and found it informative. It was lovely having you along to explore Central Otago wine country with us. Cheers, Emma Alpine Wine Tours
A great day with Emma. She was knowledgeable about the area and made sure all of us enjoyed the day.
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Katie! It was a pleasure hosting you all, and I’m so pleased you enjoyed learning about the Central Otago wine region. I hope your Central Otago Wine Club delivery brings back wonderful memories of your day with us. Safe travels, and we’d love to welcome all four of you back to Queenstown again someday! Cheers, Emma 🍷
Thank you Emma for providing my partner and I a truly one-of-a-kind experience. We sampled so many fantastic wines, and have come away with a couple of bottles. We are so happy we chose you to conduct this tour with. You were so much fine, and the wineries we experienced were incredible! Thank you!!
Hi Eddie, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and Jacky on the tour. I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the wines and found a few bottles to take home with you—there’s no better souvenir than a great Central Otago wine! 🍷 Thank you for your kind words about the experience and the wineries. Creating memorable, personal wine tours is exactly what we aim for, and it means so much to know we were part of your Queenstown visit. Wishing you both many happy memories (and delicious glasses of wine!) when you open those bottles back home. Cheers, Emma Alpine Wine Tours 🍷✨
We were very fortunate in being only three guests so we had a private Wine tour. Emma was excellent and knew history and importance of the wine region in great detail. The vehicle was spacious and comfortable and Emma is an excellent driver.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Anthony. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and your friends on our Queenstown Wine Tour, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the more intimate experience on the day. I really appreciate your kind words about the tour, the wineries, and the journey through Central Otago wine country. It’s always special sharing the stories, history, and wines of this incredible region with guests who truly appreciate the experience. Thank you again for choosing Alpine Wine Tours and we hope to welcome you back to Queenstown again someday for another memorable day in wine country. 🍷✨ Cheers, Emma 🥂
This was a great tour! Tour guide was very knowledge and super easy to talk too! Really enjoyed the variety of wine tasting and Lunch was spectacular!
Thank you for the lovely review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the variety of wine tastings, the lunch, and the relaxed atmosphere of the day 🍷 It was a pleasure sharing Central Otago wine country with you, and I really appreciate your kind words about the tour experience. Hope to welcome you back to Queenstown again someday for another wine adventure! ✨ Cheers, Emma 🍷
Great winery tour. The guide was super knowledgeable and there was just enough time at all wineries. .. Lunch was spectacular. Definitely recommend!!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Felicia — and for sharing so many beautiful photos from the day! 🍷✨ I’m so pleased you enjoyed the relaxed pace of the tour, the winery experiences, and the spectacular lunch. Central Otago really is an incredible place to explore, and your photos captured the scenery perfectly! It was such a pleasure hosting you, and thank you again for recommending us. We’d love to welcome you back to Queenstown for another wine adventure someday. Cheers, Emma 🥂
Very informative and delicious tastings in gorgeous setting
Donovan, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review! Delighted to hear you enjoyed the tastings and the incredible scenery along the way. Central Otago really does put on a spectacular backdrop for a wine tour 🍷⛰️ It was a pleasure having you join us, and we’d love to welcome you back to Queenstown again sometime. Cheers, Emma 🥂
We had a fabulous day with Emma on our winery tour. Beautiful wineries, delicious wines and food and gorgeous scenery. What more could you ask for? Emma gave us great commentary along the way and we never felt rushed. Lunch at Kinross was delicious. Don’t hesitate to book with Emma, she’s a delight. Should I also mention that we had a brief encounter with Jason Mamoa at Amisfield? What a bonus. Well played Emma 😆
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Lisa. It was such a pleasure having you both along for the day! I’m so glad you enjoyed the wineries, the wines, the scenery, and of course lunch at Kinross. I always want our tours to feel relaxed and unhurried, so it means a lot to hear that reflected in your experience. And yes… I think the surprise Jason Momoa sighting at Amisfield definitely deserves a mention 😄 What a fun and unexpected bonus to the day! Thank you again for choosing Alpine Wine Tours and for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. I hope we can welcome you back to Queenstown again someday. Cheers, Emma 🍷
Emma and Bella were wonderful to travel with and see the wine region! We enjoyed the three wineries very much and the weather was gorgeous! Lunch was delicious as well — Emma did a great job curating a memorable day for our family.
Hi Lynn, Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed exploring the Central Otago wine region with Bella and I. It’s wonderful to hear you loved the wineries, the beautiful weather, and lunch as well. Creating a relaxed and memorable experience for our guests is exactly what we aim for, so your kind words truly mean a lot. Thank you again for joining us and we hope to welcome your family back to Queenstown again one day! 🍷🐶 Cheers, Emma
