Wanaka & Central Otago: Boutique Wine Tour with Lunch

Small group wine tastings, local stories and vineyard lunch in Wanaka

You’ll meet local winemakers in Wanaka & Central Otago, sample award-winning wines at four boutique vineyards, and enjoy a late gourmet lunch cooked right inside a wine barrel. Expect relaxed conversation, new friends, hotel pickup and drop-off — plus those little moments you can’t plan for but always remember.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Wanaka, all vineyard entry fees and guided tastings at four boutique wineries across Central Otago, plenty of bottled water for between sips, live commentary from your friendly local guide Pete (or whoever’s driving), plus a generous three-course late lunch cooked right inside a wine barrel — matched with three regional wines before heading back to town together by minivan.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Wanaka vineyard wine tasting tour

• Visit 4 award-winning vineyards
• Meet vineyard owners and winemakers
• Taste a variety of wines
• Enjoy a gourmet wine barrel cooked platter
• Explore Central Otago and Wanaka scenery
• Tour with a knowledgeable friendly guide

The Experience

I was already running five minutes late when the minivan pulled up outside my hotel — classic me. Our guide, Pete, just grinned and waved me over like it happened every day (maybe it does). I squeezed into the last seat and realized everyone else had already started chatting about their favorite reds. The morning air still smelled a bit like rain on gravel. I hadn’t even had coffee yet but somehow, the idea of starting a wine tour in Wanaka before noon didn’t feel wrong at all.

The first vineyard was smaller than I expected — more like someone’s backyard that got out of hand. We met Anna, who actually runs the place with her brother. She poured us a pinot noir and told us about the frost fans they use to fight off those wild Central Otago nights. I kept thinking how quiet it was out there except for birds and Anna’s laugh echoing off the hills. The wine tasted almost earthy, but maybe that’s just what happens when you drink it where it grows.

By the third stop, I’d lost track of which valley we were in (Pete said Cromwell Basin? Or Bannockburn?) but nobody seemed to mind. There was this long wooden table set up outside with platters of bread, cheese, smoked salmon — even pickled walnuts, which I thought were olives until someone corrected me. The lunch came out of an actual wine barrel oven (I didn’t know that was a thing). We ate under a sky that couldn’t decide if it wanted to drizzle or clear up completely. Pete poured another glass and joked that the weather here is as moody as his teenage daughter.

On the way back to Wanaka, someone asked Anna what makes Central Otago wines so different and she just shrugged: “It’s stubbornness mostly.” That stuck with me for some reason. Maybe because you could taste that stubbornness in every glass — or maybe because after four vineyards and a lot of laughter with strangers who didn’t feel like strangers anymore, everything felt softer around the edges. I still think about that lunch sometimes when I open a bottle at home.

Top questions

How many vineyards do you visit on this Wanaka wine tour?

The tour includes tastings at four different boutique vineyards in Wanaka and Central Otago.

Is lunch included on the Wanaka wine tour?

Yes, a gourmet three-course lunch cooked in a wine barrel is included around 2:30pm.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for your convenience.

Are vegetarian options available for lunch?

Yes, vegetarian meal options are available if requested at booking.

Is this Wanaka wine tour suitable for beginners?

The tour welcomes both complete novices and experienced wine lovers alike.

How many people are on each tour group?

The tours run in small groups; minimum two people per booking is required.

What kind of wines will we taste?

You’ll sample award-winning wines from boutique producers — mostly pinot noir plus other regional varieties.

Is bottled water provided during the tour?

Bottled water is included along with beverages throughout the day.