Gourmet Food & Wine Tour Queenstown: 4 wineries & 5 dish lunch
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Queenstown, New Zealand
- 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover some of New Zealand's finest wines on a full-day tour of the Central Otago wine region from Queenstown. Visit multiple wineries, sip wine in Australasia's largest wine cave, enjoy a gourmet lunch with wine pairings, and sample local cheeses. Visit the Cromwell Heritage Precinct and learn about the Otago Gold Rush, too. Numbers are limited on this small-group tour that includes wine tastings, lunch, transportation, and hotel transfers.
- Explore Central Otago from Queenstown without the hassle of self-driving
- Sample delicious New Zealand wines at several wineries
- Small group ensures an intimate, personalized experience
- Hassle-free hotel transfers avoid the risk of getting lost
Sample Menu
Starter
Turkish bread with olive oil
Warm Turkish bread with homemade dip and olive oil
Main
5-dish gourmet wine-barrel cooked lunch with matching wines
- Venison - Goat ragu - Duck breast - Pork loin - Akaroa salmon wings
What's Included
- LunchAn exquisite lunch consisting of 5 dishes cooked in retired oak barrels and matched with wines.
- Wine tastings at 4 vineyards over 3 contrasting wine sub-regions
- Knowledgeable Wine Guide with fascinating commentary
- Transport by luxury vehicle
- SnacksEnjoy a lovely cheese platter which accompanies one of the wine tastings
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic drinks or wine purchases (available to purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Please note we will provide you with an exact pickup time when you have chosen your hotel. If your hotel is not listed, please advise your accommodation details and we will get back to you with the nearest pick up point.
Start time.9:30 am
Itinerary
Start your tour with morning pickup at your hotel in Queenstown and transportation by air-conditioned minivan to Central Otago, one of the world's premier cool-climate wine regions. High-quality varietals thrive here, including pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot gris, and riesling.
Enjoy your first tasting inside the wine cave at Gibbston Valley Winery. From there, stop at another Gibbston winery for tastings, then go to a third vineyard for a gourmet lunch paired with wine.
In the afternoon, see heritage buildings in Old Cromwell (time permitting) and hear more about New Zealand's largest gold rush, which took place during the 1860s in Central Otago. Then head to a winery in Cromwell or Bannockburn for your last wine tasting of the day, where the wine is paired with locally made cheeses.
Your tour ends with a hotel drop-off in Queenstown.
Enjoy your first tasting inside the wine cave at Gibbston Valley Winery. From there, stop at another Gibbston winery for tastings, then go to a third vineyard for a gourmet lunch paired with wine.
In the afternoon, see heritage buildings in Old Cromwell (time permitting) and hear more about New Zealand's largest gold rush, which took place during the 1860s in Central Otago. Then head to a winery in Cromwell or Bannockburn for your last wine tasting of the day, where the wine is paired with locally made cheeses.
Your tour ends with a hotel drop-off in Queenstown.
Lake Hayes (Pass By)
Kawarau Bungy Centre by AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand (Pass By)
1
Gibbston Valley Winery
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Bannockburn
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
The Stoaker Room Cromwell
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Cromwell Heritage Precinct
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Gibbston
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- A minimum of 2 people is required for the tour to run
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Children aged 6 - 17 years are welcome
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
A very well organised tour with quality wine tastings and vineyards. Presentations were given by knowledgeable staff and lunch was delicious in a casual and fun atmosphere. A good sized group of twelve in a minibus. The tour leader was excellent and provided lots of history about NZ and the wine regions. Big thanks to Ben! I would definitely recommend this tour company.
Reviews
4.9
based on 384 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Great way to experience some of the wines of NZ. I recommend the smaller, boutique wineries as you really get a taste of NZ. The Stoaker Room for a food and wine pairing was delicious! Lots of food to eat. Remember, its always 5 o'clock somewhere (we started with wine at 10 am...lol). And, Phil, our guide was great - his knowledge and personality enhanced the tour. Definitely worth a tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the great review. We're so pleased you enjoyed the boutique wineries and the Stoaker Room experience, it's certainly a favourite for many guests!
Phil will love reading your comments. His passion for the region, wine knowledge, and sense of humour make him a fantastic guide, and we're glad he helped make the day so memorable.
Thanks for joining us, we hope to welcome you back one day soon!
A fabulous array of wine tastings enjoyed at a number of vineyards in the Ortaga Valley. Jon our driver was incredibly informative and our lunch was a superb taste of differing BBQ’d meats cooked to perfection. A must do trip for any wine lover.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks so much for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the wine tastings, delicious lunch, and John's informative commentary.
We're so glad you had a fantastic day exploring Central Otago and really appreciate the recommendation. We hope to welcome you back again in the future!
The country covered and the commentary from the driver was exceptional. The winery’s each had unique qualities
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks for taking the time to leave a great review!
We're so pleased to hear you enjoyed exploring the region and that the commentary from your guide helped bring the area's history, scenery, and wine culture to life. Central Otago is home to a wonderful variety of wineries, so it's great to know you appreciated the unique character and qualities of each one.
We hope to welcome you back in the future!
Very pleasurable from start to finish picked up from our hotel by driver Martin who was extremely knowledgeable and engaging throughout the whole day. A great group of people on our tour wonderful company, food & wine highly recommend
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks so much for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear you had such a great day from start to finish.
Martin will be thrilled to know his knowledge and engaging hosting helped make the experience memorable. It's also wonderful to hear you enjoyed the company of your fellow guests, along with the food, wine, and overall tour experience.
Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another Central Otago wine adventure in the future!
This was lots of fun, mostly good wine and great food. Met some friendly and funny people on the trip too.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, it really means a lot to us!
We are very pleased you enjoyed wine touring with Appellation!
This is the second time I have done a wine tour with Appellation Wine Tours, the last time being in 2022 and I had the best time on both occasions. Last time I was on my own and they ensured I was included and felt comfortable, and I enjoyed it so much I had to come again and bring my fiance this time. It’s great that they also mix up the wineries so I tried some different venues this time around.
Couldn’t be happier with the value of the day & the terrific customer service overall. I bought a beanie a couple of days before & unfortunately dropped it after our lunch sitting - Martin not only called the venue to ask them to keep it safe for us, the drivers dropped it back to our hotel a day later. It’s this level of attention & care that ensures people will continue to enjoy your tours for a long time to come.
Martin was a wonderful guide with a depth of a local knowledge which kept the whole group entertained & interested throughout the day. He’s a a credit to your organisation. Thanks again mate.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello Kristy,
We were thrilled to read your lovely review. It is so lovely to hear that you had a great time touring with us in 2022 solo, and again in 2026 with your fiance.
It is our pleasure to help return the beanie hat to you - we work with wonderful venues who all pitch in to make every part of the experience as smooth as it can be. We strive to provide personalised customer care so its really great to know you valued this.
We look forward to welcoming you back again for a third Appellation tour in the future.
Many thanks,
Jade
This trip was excellent. Great wine and food. Not too much driving. I had lots of fun. Met new people.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you!! Excellence is what we strive for!
Its so lovely to hear you had fun with a great group.
Hopefully we can welcome you back again in the future.
Many thanks,
Jade
A great adventure with like minded people who love food & wine. All wineries were excellent, some with great nibbles. Heaps of wine to drink! Excellent food for lunch. I highly recommend this adventure. I will be doing it again.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Kia ora Kathy and Leon, thank you so much for your glowing review of Appellation Wine Tours! We are thrilled that you enjoyed your time on tour with us and even more excited that you will be back! We cannot wait to host you again, we have plenty more to show you! Many thanks, bye for now! Nga mihi, Sarah
From pick up to drop off the day went perfectly. Martin our guide was brilliant. We had a good crew (all strangers till about 15 minutes in). Combination of scenery, wines, food and personalities made it one to remember.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a brilliant review!
We are glad you enjoyed your tour with Martin, and your crew made it even better. It's wonderful to know our guests have made some great memories on tour with us.
We hope to welcome you back again soon!
All of the wines were tasty, the food was delicious, and our guide Taimi was excellent! Would highly reccomend
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your great review!
We’re so pleased you enjoyed the wines, delicious food, and Taimi’s excellent guiding.
Thanks for the recommendation and for joining us in Queenstown 🍷
Wonderful time visiting multiple wineries in the beautiful Central Otago region of New Zealand. John was an excellent tour guide!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for the brilliant review! We are thrilled you enjoyed your tour with John, we will be sure to pass on your kind words and hope to welcome you back again soon!
A very well organised tour with quality wine tastings and vineyards. Presentations were given by knowledgeable staff and lunch was delicious in a casual and fun atmosphere. A good sized group of twelve in a minibus. The tour leader was excellent and provided lots of history about NZ and the wine regions. Big thanks to Ben! I would definitely recommend this tour company.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We’re so pleased you enjoyed the well-organised day, quality tastings, and relaxed lunch atmosphere. It’s great to hear the group size and vineyard experiences worked so well for you.
Ben will be thrilled with your kind words — he really enjoys sharing the history of New Zealand and the wine regions.
Thanks for the recommendation and for joining us in Queenstown 🍷
Personable guide, tasty wines and a fabulous lunch with paired wines made for a truly remarkable outing.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your lovely review!
We’re so pleased you enjoyed the personable guiding, tasty wines, and fabulous lunch with paired wines, a perfect combination for a memorable day.
Thanks for joining us in Queenstown 🍷
All wineries offer tastings of their least expensive (of course) and that made them all more or less alike. The food was very nice, but we would have appreciated an oral presentation of the wines (that were really good!) and the setting was nice but a bit noisy. Very lovely driver and wwe enjoyed the occasional guiding. A stop at Roaring Meg would have been nice, very beautiful spot!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the food, the wines, and the company of your guide.
During the tour, you visited four tasting locations across three different sub-regions. While there are definitely differences between these areas, they can be more subtle and sometimes harder to pinpoint compared to tasting wines from entirely different parts of the country.
In terms of presentations, three of your tastings were guided by winery hosts, with the one unguided tasting taking place at the lunch venue. We completely understand your desire to have this tasting orally presented too, and we’ll raise this with the lunch venue to enhance this aspect wherever possible.
We’re sorry to hear that one of the settings felt a bit noisy, though we’re pleased you still found the overall experience enjoyable. And thank you for the suggestion about including a stop at Roaring Meg...we agree it’s a beautiful spot and appreciate you highlighting it.
Thanks again for your feedback.
Many thanks,
Jade
Absolutely fantastic experience with Jamie she was very knowledgeable friendly and happy to answer any questions that were asked. The whole trip was fantastic. The food was great. The wine was great. The cheese was great. I would highly recommend this experience to anybody coming to Queenstown, New Zealand.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We’re so pleased you had such a great experience with Jamie — she’ll love hearing your kind words. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the food, wine, and cheese too!
Thanks for the recommendation and for joining us in Queenstown 🍷
We enjoyed everything about the experience. Lots of good wine with very good food. We really enjoyed spending time with our guide John.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your lovely review!
We’re thrilled you enjoyed the wines, delicious food, and your time with John. He’ll be delighted to hear your kind words!
Thanks again for joining us in Queenstown 🍷
Fantastic tour ,Martin the driver/tour guide
Was great very knowledgeable and friendly.
The lunch was out of the world.
Plenty of food and of great quality
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your great review!
We’re so pleased you had a fantastic tour and enjoyed Martin’s friendly, knowledgeable guiding. It’s great to hear the lunch was a highlight too!
Thanks again for joining us in Queenstown — we hope to see you again soon 🍷
We had a lot of fun cruising around the Otago wine country with John! He was a delightful guide and the scenery was spectacular. Lunch was delicious and the wines were quite good too.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your lovely review!
We’re so glad you had a fun day exploring Otago wine country with John — he’ll love hearing your kind words. Great to hear you enjoyed the scenery, delicious lunch, and wines too!
Thanks for joining us in Queenstown 🍷
Ben was a fantastic wine and local history expert (and driver...he wore many hats while not wearing an actual hat!) He took us to several great wineries and The Stoaker for food...all delicious!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We love that description of Ben, he really does wear many hats (even if not literally! 😄). We’re so pleased to hear you enjoyed his knowledge of wine and local history, along with the great selection of wineries and delicious food at The Stoaker Room.
It’s wonderful to know you had such a memorable experience exploring the region with us. Thank you again for joining us in Queenstown, we hope to welcome you back for another great day soon! 🍷
For different vineyards visited, all with their own wines, and some history and information. The third vineyard provided a delicious lunch with the wine, and a cheese board at the fourth.
Between that, there's a drive through the beautiful area. It driver Jimmy was a very competent driver, and had some interesting facts and funny comments on wine and the general area.
For the price, it's a well filled day with plenty of tasty wines and good food. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed visiting four different vineyards, each with their own unique wines, stories, and character. It’s great that the lunch at the third stop and the cheese board at the fourth were highlights — we love creating a day that balances great wine with equally great food.
Jimmy will be thrilled to hear your kind words. His local knowledge, humour, and safe driving style really help make the journey through the beautiful landscapes around Queenstown both entertaining and relaxing.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and are so pleased you felt it was a well-filled and worthwhile day. We’d love to host you again next time you’re in the region! 🍷
Great day and great tour! The wine tasting was very informative and the food was excellent. Thanks also to tour leader Craig for sharing his local knowledge and safe driving. We were lucky to have a great group of people with us on the tour - it made the day alot of fun!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We’re delighted to hear you had a great day and enjoyed both the informative wine tastings and excellent food. Craig will be thrilled to hear your kind words — he truly loves sharing his local knowledge while keeping everyone safe and comfortable.
It’s wonderful that the group you toured with added to the fun — small groups really make for a memorable experience.
Thanks again for joining us in Queenstown. We hope to welcome you back for another amazing day of wine, food, and scenery soon! 🍷
Excellent day. Martin was very informative and the experience at all wineries was great. Really good way to meet others too and have a great day out.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We’re so glad to hear you had an excellent day and that Martin’s informative guidance added to the experience. It’s fantastic that you enjoyed visiting all the wineries and that the tour was a great way to meet others while having a fun day out.
We loved having you with us in Queenstown and hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable wine tour! 🍷
Great day tasting the local wines and delicious food….small group is the way to go. John the tour guide had excellent knowledge of the area and was good fun. Would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for the lovely review! We’re so happy to hear you had a great day enjoying the local wines and delicious food. Small groups really do make it special. John will be thrilled to hear your kind words about his knowledge and fun guiding style. Thanks so much for the recommendation, and we hope to see you again on another tour soon!
Many thanks,
Jade
We had a fantastic day on this food and wine tour. Our driver, Phil, was great—really fun, knowledgeable, and struck the perfect balance between being informative and relaxed.
The wineries we visited were all excellent, with a good mix of styles and atmospheres. Lunch at Stoaker House was a real highlight—outstanding food and a genuinely unique experience that set it apart from a standard winery lunch.
Overall, a very well-run tour and an easy recommendation for anyone looking to explore the region’s food and wine scene.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks so much for your wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear you had a fantastic day with Phil and enjoyed his mix of knowledge and relaxed style. It’s great to hear the wineries hit the mark and that lunch at Stoaker House stood out as a highlight. We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you back for another day of food, wine, and scenery soon!
It was full of information and tasting different wines from the Otago region. Most of it is Pinot Noir. We had John as our guide, who did a superb job.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad you enjoyed exploring Central Otago’s wines, especially our famous Pinot Noir. John will be thrilled to hear your feedback. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Great communication from the company. Pick up was as planned.
The tour guide was friendly, well informed with great knowledge of the area as well as the vineyards and wineries. It was really interesting to learn about the history of the area as we were driven through the countryside and how wine making has evolved in the Queenstown area.
Visiting 4 wineries gave us a variety of wines to taste and the meal at The Stoaker Room was excellent. It was also a great opportunity to talk with everyone else on the tour as we shared platters of delicious meats and vegetables with accompanying wine tasters for each course.
We had shared cheese boards at the final winery to go with our last tasting session. Again we all chatted as a group and this enhanced the experience for me as I met people from all over the world despite the small group number.
I would recommend this tour. The fact it is only for a small number of people is a definite positive in my opinion.
A great tour if you love wine, some good food, want to get some knowledge of the area and enjoy meeting a small group of people who could be from anywhere in the world.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the combination of beautiful scenery, history, and of course, the wines.
It’s great to know that the small group size and shared platters helped make the experience more social and enjoyable. Meeting people from around the world is one of our favourite parts of a tour too!
We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to your guide. We’d love to welcome you back for another day of wine, food, and exploration soon!
John, our specialist wine guide was fantastic. Very personable and full of humor. He was very knowledgeable about the wine region and the wineries we visited.
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour with him. We tasted some great wines. We had an unique 5dish gourmet luncheon with wine pairing.
Very experienced and fun guide. We above and beyond for our group. Highly recommend him for future tours!!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
We are thrilled to hear you and your group had such a great time. It was a pleasure spending the day with you all, and we really appreciate the recommendation.
Hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Many thanks,
Jade
We had a wonderful day. Craig our driver was very prompt in picking us up from our hotel. He made us feel very welcome as assisted me when entering and departing the bus. His knowledge of the area was very interesting and entertaining. We enjoyed the three wineries we visited and lunch was delicious.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re so pleased to hear you had a wonderful day exploring with us. Craig will be thrilled to know his warm hospitality and local knowledge made your experience even more enjoyable. We're also glad you loved the wineries and had a delicious lunch—great wine and food always make for a perfect day! We truly appreciate you choosing to tour with us and hope to see you again next time you're in the region.
Many thanks,
Jade
This was a fantastic experience. The winemakers and vineyards we visited were amazing, wine delicious and food excellent. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and created a fun environment. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so glad you had such a great time on the Gourmet Food and Wine Tour. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the wines, food, and the warm, fun atmosphere created by your guide. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in the future.
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