Central Otago Wineries in New Zealand are home to some of the world’s best Pinot Noir. It’s hard to miss them when you’re driving through the Central Otago region around Wanaka and Queenstown – there’s so many!
Most Central Otago Wineries have a cellar door, which means a tasting room. Many also offer an on site restaurant or bistro. If you want to eat, I would highly recommend making a reservation in advance, as the Central Otago Wineries are where you can find some of the best food in the region.
Central Otago Wineries
Mt Difficulty Wines
Best for: Views
Mt Difficulty Wines is located on top of a hill and offers some of the best views of the surrounding region. There is a restaurant on site, but we chose to try some wine at the Cellar Door which is located right when you walk in. A tasting is free when you’re dining in the restaurant otherwise they’re $5 a person. We created our own tasting and afterwards ordered a glass of Pinot Noir while we sat on the beautiful patio.
Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door
Best for: Atmosphere
For a classy atmosphere and a multi course tasting menu of local, in-season produce, head to Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door. Sit outside if there’s room and enjoy the scenic water feature while cuddling up under a provided blanket if there’s a chill. We each ordered a glass of the 2016 Pinot Noir and loved it. With our bill, we received macarons for dessert which was unexpected but so delicious!
Wild Earth Winery & The Stoaker Room
Best for: Food
The Stoaker Room is a unique spot with an outdoor kitchen featuring stoakers, which are cookers that steam, bake, grill, and smoke food in a Pinot Noir winer barrel. We ordered a variety of meats and veggies to share and sat on a casual picnic table to eat. This is also where you can find Wild Earth wines, so make sure to get a glass while you’re there! Note: Be sure to type in “The Stoaker Room” on Google Maps and not “Wild Earth” as that will lead you to the wrong place!
These Central Otago wineries are all very different, but are three of our favorites! There’s so many more wineries to experience in the area, we can’t wait to go back.
