Queenstown: Wine Tour with 4 Tastings & Gibbston Cave

Summary

Queenstown vineyards tasting day with Gibbston cave tour and local hosts

You’ll get picked up around Queenstown and spend your day tasting at four different wineries in Gibbston Valley — including a guided walk through New Zealand’s largest wine cave and time for lunch at Kinross (your choice). Local guides share stories that stick with you long after you’ve left the vines.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t know what to expect from a wine tour in Queenstown, honestly. I just knew I wanted something that felt real, not just sipping and nodding politely. The morning started with our guide, Sam — he actually remembered everyone’s names, which was nice — pulling up in a shiny Mercedes van right outside my hotel. It smelled like fresh coffee inside (someone had a takeaway cup) and there was this nervous energy as we wound out of town into the Gibbston Valley. The hills looked almost too green, like someone cranked up the saturation. I caught myself grinning for no reason.

Our first stop was Gibbston Valley Winery. There’s this underground wine cave — apparently the biggest in New Zealand — and it’s cool in every sense of the word. You can smell damp stone and oak barrels before you even see them. Sam handed us over to one of the cellar hosts who joked about “Kiwi time” as she poured us their Pinot Noir. I tried to swirl it like I knew what I was doing but mostly just hoped nobody noticed me sniffing it twice. The stories about how these vineyards got started made me realize how young this wine region is compared to Europe, but people here are so proud of what they’re building.

Lunch at Kinross wasn’t included but honestly, I’m glad we could just pick whatever we felt like (I went for pizza — no regrets). Their host let us try wines from smaller producers too, which felt special, like getting a peek behind the curtain. At Mt Rosa, we sat outside under this big sky near Nevis Bluff; their mulled wine was warm and spicy, which hit different after all those chilled whites. Someone in our group tried to ask for seconds in very bad Kiwi slang — pretty sure the staff are used to it by now.

The last stop was Ayrburn. By then everyone was a bit looser (in a good way), wandering between old stone buildings and sun patches on the grass with our little self-guided flights. No pressure, just time to sit or wander or talk quietly. On the ride back to Queenstown, I kept replaying that moment in the cave — how still it felt down there, cold air on my hands, glass catching bits of light. That’s what stuck with me most.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Wine tastings at four wineries

• Meet guide near Queenstown accommodation
• Visit Gibbston Valley Winery and cave tour
• Taste wines at Gibbston Valley
• Travel to Kinross winery
• Taste wines from multiple labels at Kinross
• Enjoy optional lunch at Kinross
• Visit Mt Rosa winery
• Taste single-label wines at Mt Rosa
• Finish tasting at Ayrburn winery
• Enjoy self-guided wine flight at Ayrburn

Top questions

How many wineries do you visit on this Queenstown wine tour?

You visit four wineries: Gibbston Valley, Kinross, Mt Rosa, and Ayrburn (venues may change if closed).

Is lunch included on the Queenstown wine tasting tour?

No, lunch is not included but there is a stop at Kinross where you can order directly from their menu.

Does this wine tour include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, convenient pickups are available around Queenstown accommodations and bus stops.

What is special about Gibbston Valley Winery?

Gibbston Valley features New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave and offers guided tours with tastings.

Are all tastings included in the price?

Yes, all tastings at each winery are included during your day trip from Queenstown.

Can non-drinkers join this tour?

The experience focuses on wine tasting; minimum drinking age is 18 years old.

How long does the full day trip take?

The full day typically lasts several hours including transport between wineries and lunch time.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your Queenstown accommodation or nearby bus stops, comfortable transport in a premium Mercedes vehicle, entry for tastings at four cellar doors across Gibbston Valley (all tastings covered), a guided walk through New Zealand's largest underground wine cave at Gibbston Valley Winery, plus free time for lunch at Kinross where you order what you want on the day before heading back to town together.