Drive through Central Otago’s stark slopes to four boutique cellar doors, taste award-winning Pinot Noir and enjoy a barrel-cooked lunch paired with local wines. This 4.5‑hour Wanaka tour mixes approachable tasting notes with scenic vineyard visits and personable winemakers.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Morning light splashes across Lake Wanaka and the vines beyond, the mountains cutting a crisp horizon. On a wine tour through Central Otago you move from glasshouse warmth into exposed rows of low-trained vines, each slope carrying a different expression of the region’s schist soils and high-altitude sun. The guide opens the day with local color—who planted what, which small producers are experimenting with Pinot Noir—and you follow, tasting at four cellar doors where owners still crack open barrels and tell you what this place asks of a grape.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
4–5 hours
Fitness Level
Low-impact; suitable for most fitness levels as the day involves short walks at cellar doors and time seated during tastings
Wildlife
History
Central Otago shifted from goldfields in the 1860s to pastoral farming; modern vineyards took hold in the late 20th century thanks to the region’s dry climate and free-draining schist soils.
Conservation
Many local producers practice low-intervention viticulture and water-wise irrigation; visitors are encouraged to support cellar doors that promote sustainable practices and to avoid leaving waste behind.
Reserve your spot on the Wine Tour with Wine Tasting from Wanaka today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Bring ID for tastings
You must be of legal drinking age—carry photo ID as cellar doors will check before pours.
Layer for shifting weather
Conditions change quickly between lake shore and vineyard terraces—pack a light windproof layer.
Pace the pours
Sip and cleanse with water between tastings; the tour includes a platter and a late lunch, so space your tastings.
Notify dietary needs early
The tour can accommodate vegetarian options but must be told at booking time.
Photo-ready layers
Light jacket and sun layer to handle temperature swings between lake and vineyard slopes.
Sunscreen and hat
High UV in Central Otago—protect skin during outdoor tastings and transfers.
summer
Reusable water bottle
Staying hydrated between tastings helps palate accuracy and comfort on the minivan transfers.
Small daypack
Useful for carrying purchases, layers, and any photography gear comfortably.