Private Central Otago Wine Tour from Queenstown: Four Wineries

Taste four Central Otago wineries in one day without sharing your guide or vehicle

A private wine tour from Queenstown for groups of 2–10 guests takes you through Gibbston Valley and Bannockburn to four distinct wineries: Peregrine Wines with its iconic barrel hall, Te Kano Estate overlooking alpine vineyard views, Carrick Winery for a wine flight and lakefront lunch (own expense), and Amisfield, ranked among the world's top 100 restaurants. Your local New Zealand wine guide leads the day in a private Mercedes, setting the pace and stops to suit your group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Central Otago private wine tour

• Depart Queenstown to Central Otago
• Pass through Valley of the Vines
• Wine tasting at Peregrine Wines
• Drive through Kawarau Gorge
• Pass through Bannockburn vineyards
• Wine tasting at Te Kano Estate
• Lunch and wine flight at Carrick Winery
• Wine tasting at Amisfield Winery
• Travel alongside Lake Wakatipu

The experience

The barrel hall at Peregrine Wines is where you start: a glass in hand, walking through the cellar where Central Otago Pinot Noir ages. From there, the route takes you through the Kawarau Gorge, a rugged landscape that defines the region's wine-growing identity, and into Bannockburn, where Te Kano Estate sits on a ridge overlooking the vineyard and alpine terrain. The architecture and views are part of the tasting experience itself, not just backdrop.

At Carrick Winery, you stop for a hosted wine flight and time to eat lunch at your own pace, surrounded by vineyard, mountain and river views. The winery is certified organic, and the setting, on the Bannockburn Inlet, gives the afternoon a natural pause. Your guide stays with you throughout, answering questions about the wines and the region without the rhythm of a group schedule. The final stop is Amisfield, overlooking Lake Hayes, where a premium tasting closes the day. The return to Queenstown runs alongside Lake Wakatipu, framed by the Remarkables.

The Mercedes is yours alone for the 6.5 hours, which means no waiting for other groups, no compromise on timing, and no strangers in the vehicle. Your guide is a local wine expert who knows the producers and can adjust the day if one winery captures your group's interest. Pricing scales down per person as your group grows from 2 to 10 guests, so larger groups save on the per-head cost.

What’s included

• Private Mercedes transport reserved exclusively for your group.
• hosted tastings at Peregrine Wines, Te Kano Estate, Carrick Winery and Amisfield.
• a local New Zealand wine guide for the full day.
• scenic alpine journey through Queenstown, Gibbston Valley and Bannockburn.
• wine flights and cellar access at four distinct wineries.
• hotel or central Queenstown pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by Alpine Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if your group wants to taste Central Otago Pinot Noir without the rhythm of a shared schedule: the private guide and vehicle mean you set the pace, linger where you choose, and avoid the logistics of coordinating separate transport or navigating between wineries yourself.

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Top questions

What makes Peregrine Wines a good starting point for a Central Otago wine tour?

Peregrine Wines sits in the heart of Gibbston Valley, known as the Valley of the Vines, and is home to some of Central Otago's most iconic Pinot Noir producers. The winery's barrel hall is a signature feature. You walk through it with your glass, seeing where the wines age, which gives a direct sense of how the region's cool-climate wines are made.

Can I eat lunch during the tour, or do I need to arrange it separately?

Lunch happens at Carrick Winery, where you have time to dine at your own pace. The winery restaurant is on-site, but meals are at your own expense, not included in the tour price. The setting overlooks the Bannockburn Inlet and vineyard, so it is part of the experience even though you pay for the food separately.

How does the private format change the pace of the day compared to a shared group tour?

With your own guide and vehicle, the day moves at your group's rhythm. If one winery or landscape holds your interest, you can linger. There is no schedule dictated by other guests, and your guide can tailor conversation and stops to what your group wants to know about Central Otago wines.

What is Amisfield, and why is it the final stop?

Amisfield is one of New Zealand's most celebrated wineries, ranked among the World's Top 100 Restaurants in 2024. It overlooks Lake Hayes and the alpine scenery, and the premium hosted tasting there closes the tour on a high note before the return to Queenstown.

Does the tour include the drive back to Queenstown, and what does that route look like?

Yes, the return to Queenstown is included. The drive runs alongside Lake Wakatipu, framed by the Remarkables mountain range, so the scenic journey is part of the full day rather than a separate transfer.