Wanaka wine tour: 6 vineyards, 30 wines, lunch included

Taste your way through Central Otago without driving or planning the stops

A full-day small-group wine tour in Wanaka and Central Otago takes you to 6 boutique vineyards where you taste approximately 30 hand-crafted wines, meet the owners and winemakers, and sit down to a five-course barrel-cooked banquet matched with five award-winning wines. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a guide who explains the region's geography, soils and winemaking characters. The tour runs 6.5 hours and suits everyone from complete novices to dedicated enthusiasts.

The experience

What makes this region punch above its weight? That's the question your guide will answer as you move through six of Wanaka and Central Otago's premium boutique vineyards. You'll taste Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc, roughly 30 wines in total, while the guide walks you through the geography, history and soils that shape each one. These are the little gems quietly building a big reputation, and you'll get close to the people making them: the vineyard owners and winemakers themselves, not just the tasting room staff.

Halfway through, you stop at a popular local vineyard restaurant overlooking the vines for a gourmet platter. But this isn't a quick snack: you're sitting down to a five-course barrel-cooked banquet, each course matched with one of the region's award-winning wines. There's time built in for photos and conversation: the day moves at a pace that lets you absorb what you're tasting instead of rushing to the next stop.

Your knowledgeable guide picks you up from your Wanaka accommodation and brings you back when the tour ends, so you're free to taste without worrying about driving or navigating between vineyards. Whether you know nothing about wine or you've been collecting for years, the tour is built to work for both: the commentary is entertaining and insightful without being condescending, and the wines themselves (world-class, well-balanced, delightful), do most of the talking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Wanaka accommodation.
• a professional local guide providing live commentary in English.
• tastings at 6 boutique vineyards.
• a five-course barrel-cooked banquet matched with five award-winning wines.
• approximately 30 hand-crafted Central Otago wines tasted across the day.
• gourmet food and vineyard views.
• GST.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Wanaka Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups mean you're tasting alongside other wine lovers rather than on a crowded coach, and the pace (6.5 hours with time at each vineyard and a proper sit-down lunch) lets you absorb what you're learning instead of moving fast to hit a checklist. Book this if you want to taste serious Central Otago wines and meet the people making them, without the logistics of driving between vineyards yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

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

You visit 6 boutique vineyards across Wanaka and Central Otago, tasting approximately 30 hand-crafted wines total and meeting the owners and winemakers at each stop.

What's included in the five-course lunch?

The tour includes a barrel-cooked five-course banquet at a vineyard restaurant, with each course matched to one of five award-winning Central Otago wines.

Do I need to know about wine to enjoy this tour?

No, the tour is designed for everyone from complete novices to dedicated wine connoisseurs, and your guide's commentary is both entertaining and educational without assuming prior knowledge.

How long is the full-day wine tour?

The tour runs 6.5 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, with time built in for tastings, conversation and the five-course lunch at a vineyard restaurant.

What varieties of wine will I taste?

You'll taste Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc across the 6 vineyards, sampling approximately 30 wines in total.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, the tour includes pickup and drop-off from your Wanaka accommodation, so you don't need to arrange your own transport.