Wine Tasting Wanaka & Central Otago: Meet the Winemakers

Share a gourmet platter and stories with winemakers amid Central Otago’s vineyards.

A wine tasting and sightseeing tour of Central Otago's five key regions—Wanaka, Pisa, Cromwell, Bannockburn and Bendigo—with tastings at local wineries, a shared gourmet lunch platter, and a guide who drives. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; minimum age is 18.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wine tasting and sightseeing tour

• Start tour in Wanaka
• Visit Cromwell wine region
• Explore historic Bannockburn wineries
• Discover Bendigo wine region
• Return to Wanaka

The Experience

Wanaka sits at the heart of this seven-hour day, and the tour starts with hotel pickup, so you don't need a car or navigate the region yourself. From there you move through Pisa, Cromwell, Bannockburn and Bendigo—each one a distinct wine zone shaped by its own mountain ranges, altitude and summer heat. The Dunstan, Pisa and Old Woman ranges frame Cromwell in the fruit basket of Central Otago; Bannockburn's hot, dry summers produce boutique Pinot Noir; Bendigo sits where Māori once camped between seasons, now thriving on its own wine reputation.

At each winery stop, you taste with the people who made the wine. That's the core of the day—not a tasting room pouring for crowds, but winemakers sharing what went into the bottle, from vineyard to glass. You get bottled water on board and an air-conditioned vehicle throughout, which matters on the hot Central Otago days that make these wines possible. Midway through, a shared gourmet lunch platter arrives, built for the group to pick through together.

The guide drives and provides live commentary as you move between stops, so the travel time itself is part of the experience rather than dead time. You're moving through the landscape they're talking about—the mountain views, the vineyard blocks, the history of gold mining in Bannockburn—rather than sitting still and being told about it from a distance.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• live guide commentary in English.
• wine tastings at wineries across Wanaka, Pisa, Cromwell, Bannockburn and Bendigo.
• a shared gourmet lunch platter.
• bottled water.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Living the Dream Tours

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a rental car or navigate the five wine regions yourself—the day unfolds from your accommodation, and the guide handles the route while you focus on the tastings and the winemakers.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the wineries in Bannockburn and Bendigo?

Bannockburn produces internationally renowned boutique wines, particularly Pinot Noir, thanks to hot summer days with little rain. Bendigo also specializes in Pinot Noir but sits on land historically used by Māori as a seasonal camping site between Wanaka and the West Coast, and now operates as a thriving wine region in its own right.

Is the gourmet lunch platter enough for a full meal?

The lunch platter is designed for sharing among the group, so it's a substantial midday break rather than a light snack, but it's not a multi-course restaurant meal.

Do I need to be an experienced wine drinker to join?

No—the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the winemakers themselves guide you through what you're tasting, so you learn as you go.

What happens if I don't have a car in Wanaka?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't need to arrange transport or drive yourself between wineries.

How much time do you spend at each winery?

The itinerary covers five regions across seven hours including travel time, so each stop allows time to taste and talk with the winemakers without rushing, though the exact duration at each varies.