Wanaka wine tour: Three boutique wineries, small group

Taste Central Otago Pinot Noir straight from the winemakers who grow it

A half-day wine tour from Wanaka visits three carefully selected boutique wineries with a local guide, includes tastings of premium wines and a curated charcuterie board, and runs in small groups to allow real conversation with winemakers. Door-to-door pickup from your Wanaka accommodation is included, and the tour is limited to 18 and over.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day wine tour in Wanaka

• Pickup from Wanaka accommodation
• Visit first boutique winery
• Sample premium Central Otago wines
• Visit second boutique winery
• Enjoy curated afternoon platter
• Visit third boutique winery
• Meet passionate winemakers
• Learn about the wine region
• Relax and enjoy vineyard views

The experience

Wanaka's wine country sits in Central Otago, where Pinot Noir thrives in the mountain climate. This half-day tour picks you up from your accommodation and moves through three boutique wineries chosen for their quality and character rather than size. You taste a range of premium wines at each stop, meet the winemakers themselves, and learn how the region's cool nights and long growing season shape what ends up in your glass. A curated afternoon platter designed to complement the wines arrives partway through, and the guide, a local with international wine-tour experience, keeps the pace relaxed and the conversation real.

Small group sizes mean you're not herded through. There's time to ask questions, linger over a wine you like, and let the day bend toward what interests the group. The wineries are boutique producers, not commercial operations, so the atmosphere stays personal. The air-conditioned vehicle handles the driving between stops, and bottled water is on hand throughout. The whole experience runs about four hours, designed to fit a half-day without feeling rushed.

What’s included

• Door-to-door pickup from your Wanaka accommodation.
• tastings at three boutique wineries.
• a curated afternoon charcuterie board designed to pair with the wines.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport between stops.
• a local guide with international wine-tour experience.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDeparts at 12:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

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

Good to know

Pets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Living the Dream Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the pace personal and the winemakers accessible, so you get real conversation instead of a rushed tasting-room experience. This suits anyone who wants to understand Central Otago wines without spending a full day in wine country.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the wineries on this tour and the bigger operations around Wanaka?

The three wineries are boutique producers chosen for their quality and welcoming character rather than volume or commercial scale. You meet the winemakers at each stop, and the small-group format allows unhurried tastings and real conversation instead of a quick pour-and-move-on.

Does the tour include food, or is the charcuterie board something you pay extra for?

The curated afternoon platter is included in the tour price and is designed to complement the wines you're tasting. It arrives partway through the day as a shared board.

How does pickup work, and where does the tour start?

Door-to-door pickup from your Wanaka accommodation is included. The guide collects you and returns you to your hotel at the end of the tour, so you don't need to arrange transport to the wineries.

What kind of wines will I be tasting?

The tour focuses on Central Otago's premium wines, including the region's famous Pinot Noir, plus a range of other wines selected by the wineries. Tastings happen at all three stops and are included in the tour price.

Is there a minimum age for this tour?

Yes, you must be 18 or older to join. The tour is built around wine tastings, so age verification applies.