THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend 45 minutes tasting Central Otago’s expressive wines at Kinross Winery in Bannockburn. Learn about schist soils, local growers and rare bottlings while sampling whites, rosé and reds.
Spend 45 minutes tasting Central Otago’s expressive wines at Kinross Winery in Bannockburn. Learn about schist soils, local growers and rare bottlings while sampling whites, rosé and reds.
A late-afternoon sun warms the low vines at Kinross; the air smells faintly of crushed grass and fermented stone as you step into a tasting room that opens onto the orchard-dotted slopes of Bannockburn. Glass in hand, you move between whites and reds while a Wine Advisor unmasks the link between the region’s schist soils and the wines’ tense acidity.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Kinross Winery · Cromwell, Otago
A late-afternoon sun warms the low vines at Kinross; the air smells faintly of crushed grass and fermented stone as you step into a tasting room that opens onto the orchard-dotted slopes of Bannockburn. Glass in hand, you move between whites and reds while a Wine Advisor unmasks the link between the region’s schist soils and the wines’ tense acidity.
Central Otago’s story is visible in the landscape: braided glacial rivers carved terraces of free-draining schist and schist-derived soils that force vines to dig deep. The goldrush of the 1860s reshaped settlement patterns here, and a later wave of viticulture turned sun-soaked, frost-prone slopes into some of the country’s most expressive Pinot Noir country.
Culture at Kinross leans practical and personal—small lots, named growers (Hawkshead, High Garden, Valli, Wild Irishman) and a focus on terroir-driven tasting. Expect a 45-minute guided tasting covering whites, rosé and several red expressions, including limited-release bottles not commonly sold off the shelf.
Practical guidance: book ahead; tastings are 18+ and wheelchair accessible. Plan for roughly 45 minutes, and if you’re tasting several wines, arrange transport—Central Otago roads are rural and winding. Bring a water bottle, a light layer for breezy evenings, and an appetite for orchard fruit and minerality on the palate. The experience is short, focused and ideal as part of a half-day wine loop that also visits nearby historic sluicings and Lake Dunstan viewpoints.
easy.
45 minutes.
Suitable for all fitness levels; mostly seated and standing in flat tasting areas
The Classic Wine Experience runs about 45 minutes and covers a selection of whites, rosé and reds, including some limited-release wines.
No—this tasting is for guests aged 18 and over only; ID is required on arrival.
Yes—Kinross reports wheelchair-accessible surfaces and areas; notify the host of any access needs when booking.
Yes—bottles tasted are often available for purchase on-site or via the winery’s shop; ask staff about shipping or cellar options for limited releases.
Central Otago moved from goldrush settlements in the 1860s to grape cultivation in the 20th century; vineyards now exploit schist terraces and a pronounced diurnal range.
Water stewardship and dry-farming practices are increasingly important here—support wineries that prioritize local biodiversity and minimal chemical inputs.
Kinross Winery operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A late-afternoon sun warms the low vines at Kinross; the air smells faintly of crushed grass and fermented stone as you step into a tasting room that opens onto the orchard-dotted slopes of Bannockburn. Glass in hand, you move between whites and reds while a Wine Advisor unmasks the link between the region’s schist soils and the wines’ tense acidity.
A late-afternoon sun warms the low vines at Kinross; the air smells faintly of crushed grass and fermented stone as you step into a tasting room that opens onto the orchard-dotted slopes of Bannockburn. Glass in hand, you move between whites and reds while a Wine Advisor unmasks the link between the region’s schist soils and the wines’ tense acidity.
Central Otago’s story is visible in the landscape: braided glacial rivers carved terraces of free-draining schist and schist-derived soils that force vines to dig deep. The goldrush of the 1860s reshaped settlement patterns here, and a later wave of viticulture turned sun-soaked, frost-prone slopes into some of the country’s most expressive Pinot Noir country.
Culture at Kinross leans practical and personal—small lots, named growers (Hawkshead, High Garden, Valli, Wild Irishman) and a focus on terroir-driven tasting. Expect a 45-minute guided tasting covering whites, rosé and several red expressions, including limited-release bottles not commonly sold off the shelf.
Practical guidance: book ahead; tastings are 18+ and wheelchair accessible. Plan for roughly 45 minutes, and if you’re tasting several wines, arrange transport—Central Otago roads are rural and winding. Bring a water bottle, a light layer for breezy evenings, and an appetite for orchard fruit and minerality on the palate. The experience is short, focused and ideal as part of a half-day wine loop that also visits nearby historic sluicings and Lake Dunstan viewpoints.