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The sun shining on lake-dipped mountain views, a chilled glass of Central Otago’s finest rosé in hand, and all the time in the world. You’re sipping your way through Wānaka’s wine trail, and life is good.
Home to some of Central Otago’s finest wines, there’s no better way to savour a taste of the region than at our local Wānaka vineyards. With wineries scattered around town and through the rolling hills of Central Otago, a Wānaka wine tour brings surprising flavours, unmatched views and almost always ends with a few new favourites bottled for later. Whether you’re pedalling between cellar doors or relaxing with a guided tour, here’s all you need to know to craft your perfect Wānaka wine tour.
Our local Wānaka winemakers are skilled craftsmen of the wine world, and we’re only too happy to oblige their art. Family-run but globally recognised, you’ll taste the local quality of every glass.
Tucked above Lake Wānaka with one of the most stunning vineyard views in the world, Rippon is a four-generation family-run estate and a pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in the region. With incredible lake and mountain vistas, the vineyard is best known for its Pinot Noir – but every glass here reflects a deep respect for land and place. Tastings are by appointment, and trust us, it’s not a Wānaka wine tour without a tipple at Rippon.
A boutique label with an impressive track record, Maude has a whole shelf of accolades for their elegant Central Otago Pinot Noirs and aromatic whites. Their tasting room sits above the Golf Course in town, making it one of the easiest tastings to slot into your tour. It’s a stunning, sun-on-your-cheeks spot to savour delicious wines, tasty nibbles, and lazy afternoon views. Bonus points for adding a French-twist dinner stop at next door’s Bistro Gentil.
A family-run vineyard founded by two geologists with a deep understanding of the land, the Aitken’s Folly Vineyard lets its wines do the talking. With delicious Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Rosé blends, you’re bound to leave with a new obsession and a story or two. Their cellar door is open six days a week, so make sure to add it to the wine tour.
Just a few minutes from town, Paddon’s Paddock is a family-owned vineyard with a warm, welcoming cellar door. As well as tastings, you’ll find woodfired pizzas and platters to pair, live music events, and an outdoor area to throw down a picnic blanket, bask in the sun and sip your Pinot as God intended. It’s as much a social hub as it is a vineyard.
Set among the dry hills of Queensberry, just 20 minutes from Wānaka, Nanny Goat’s cellar door looks out over a quiet valley made for long, unhurried tastings. Linger over a glass, soak up the views, and let the experienced team guide you through current drops and wine-making philosophy with a tasty grazing menu from the cellar door.
Wānaka’s wine trail is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. Getting from A to B safely (and scenically) is key to making the most out of your day, whether you’re taking a guided wine tour or going the DIY route with a self-guided Wānaka bike wine tour. Whatever you choose, make sure you’re journeying between wineries responsibly.
Guided Wine Tours
Prefer to sit back, sip away, and let someone else do the driving? Wānaka has no shortage of local wine tour operators that make a day of wine tasting effortless.
Self-Guided Adventures
For those who like to set their own pace, Wānaka also has some great self-guided bike wine tour options. Grab a bike or e-bike, pull up your map, and enjoy a little sunshine and fresh air with a bike and wine experience from vineyard to vineyard.
Taxi
I’d you’d prefer to be picked up and dropped off, there are plenty of local taxi options like Yello!, Wana Taxi or Tuk Tuk Taxi to get you home safely. It pays to be prepared, too, so booking in advance (especially in peak season, weekends or holidays) makes for one less thing to think about.
From iconic lakeside estates to family-run cellar doors, each winery tells its own story of land, people, and passion. Whether a guided tour or a bike adventure, you’ve got the makings of a perfect day out: one that blends flavour, community, and an authentic sense of place.
Explore more food and wine tours in Wānaka, check out local transport options, and discover What’s On in Wānaka for live music and events to pair with your wine.
