Throughout the day, you can enjoy tasting over 18 spectacular cool-climate wines, with the option of a scrumptious lunch. You will be well looked after and hosted by an Altitude wine guide and cellar staff, and educated and entertained with local winemaking facts and stories.
Your Wine Tasting Journey Begins
Start your day being met by your wine-certified guide at or near your Queenstown accommodation. From there, we’ll travel a short distance to the Gibbston wine region, home to top-rated wineries, award-winning winemakers, and, of course, delicious Pinot Noir.
Gibbston Valley Winery
Our first location is the iconic Gibbston Valley Winery. Gibbston Valley is one of the region’s founding wineries and it’s here that we will join a guided tour through New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave and enjoy tastings of some of their world-famous wines.
Kinross
Kinross is a fantastic location to try a range of different wines from multiple winemakers. Along with producing their own, they will also showcase wines from smaller producers and share their incredible stories. After your wine tasting, we allow extra time to enjoy lunch. Kinross has a range of delicious dishes on its menu, including pizzas, platters, smaller bites, and mains. This is ordered and paid directly on the day, giving you the flexibility to order what you would like based on your taste and budget.
Mt Rosa Wines
Mt Rosa is a smaller owner-operated winery and their stunning location is situated just below the impressive Nevis Bluff. Sitting in the vines, their newly built cellar door building gives you a sophisticated backdrop to a delicious tasting menu. Their cellar door host will take you through different varieties of their single-label wines. Their mulled wine is a customer highlight!
The Church Cellar Door
We finish our tasting tour at The Church Tasting Room. This is a picturesque location, in a small refurbished church sitting on large sweeping grounds. This is the tasting room for Mt Edward Wines, who are a family-run producer in Gibbston growing small batches from single vineyard sites. Their wines include Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay, and Chenin.
Experience the Unforgettable
We’re all about pairing good people with good wine, whether you’re recharging your batteries after endless days of play, an avid sightseer, or a wine enthusiast. Let us take you on a top-rated wine-tasting journey and experience more with Altitude Tours.
This tour was judged the world’s best wine tour 2020-2021 by Tripadvisor, Best of the Best awards, and the 4th best activity and tour in all of New Zealand – Read more here.
Enjoy a sleep-in? We also offer a late-afternoon Twilight Wine and Craft Beer Tour, or if you would prefer a custom-made private tour, we can create an epic experience tailored just for you. Yeah, you.
Most 5 star reviews for Queenstown Wine Tours, Tripadvisor 2017 – 2021.
We start with a cave tour at Gibbston Valley, followed by a tasting at the wonderful Kinross where we then stop for lunch. After lunch you’ll visit Mt Rosa and the fourth stop of the trip is at The Church!
Our lunch stop is at Kinross who offer main meals as well as sharing style platters and bites. You’ll pay Kinross directly for these meals on the day.
Yes, however we know good counselors!
Absolutely! Your guide will provide a menu and pre-order your meal at the beginning of the tour, just let them know of any dietary requirements and this can be catered for.
Being a wine-focused tour, it is designed to best entertain those 18 years and older.
You can wear whatever makes you feel comfortable! Make sure to bring sun protection for those sunny days where you might want to enjoy outdoor tastings. For ideas on what NOT to wear check out our blog: What not to wear on a wine tour
Yes all of our wine guides are put through an intensive wine and beer accreditation specifically built for Altitude Tours. This includes theory on the history of wine, wine in the world, wine in NZ and wine in Central Otago. They also know when to stop delivering wine information and let you sit back, enjoy the sights and day out!
No, but you can buy any wine along the way from the cellar door we visit. All wine purchased is placed in the boot of the vehicle and passed over to you on completion of the tour so you can enjoy it after or later on your holiday.
We pick up from select Queenstown hotels and the main bus stop routes in Queenstown town centre and along Frankton Road. When booking, type in your accommodation and it will suggest the closest bus stop. If it doesn’t come up just check in with us and we’ll let you know where is closest for you!
All levels of wine knowledge are welcome! From the beginner wine tasting to the expert wine connoisseur wanting to chat wine all day, our guides and tours will suit all.
Central Otago is famous for it’s Pinot Noir, so there will certainly be plenty of that to taste! Other varieties you’ll taste are Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé and Riesling.
Minimum numbers for this tour is 3pax, and maximum is 14pax, so you’ll get a great small group experience!
Yes! All wine purchased is placed in the boot of the vehicle and passed over to you on completion of the tour so you can enjoy it after or later on your holiday.
You are not wrong! Altitude Tours was awarded the Worlds’ Best Wine Tour by Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Awards 2021 – we are super proud!
We do not have any facilities to lift you into our vans, please get in touch to discuss your requirements, we will do our best to accommodate you.
Altitude Tours has been named the Top Wine Tasting Experiences in the world.