Central Otago is a place like no other—where dramatic landscapes meet world-class winemaking. As Queenstown’s original wine tour company, we’ve been exploring this stunning region since 1992, and we’re proud to take you off the beaten path to some of the most exciting wine destinations in New Zealand. Set against a backdrop of rugged mountains, glacial lakes, and golden hills, our region’s unique climate—hot, long, summer days, with cool shorter nights, and low rainfall—makes it ideal for growing premium Pinot Noir and aromatic whites. The result? Wines with character, elegance, a distinct sense of place, and global acclaim.
Central Otago’s story begins with Gold in the 1860s, when the biggest gold rush in New Zealand’s history brought thousands of hopeful prospectors to the region.
Though the gold rush was short-lived, it forever changed the landscape. The fertile valleys that once teemed with miners soon became known for orchard fruit, especially world-class apricots, and more recently, cherries.
In 1864, Frenchman Jean Désiré Féraud saw promise in the land and used his gold rush fortune to plant the first vines in Central Otago. Drawing on his European winemaking heritage, he won awards in both Sydney and Melbourne—proving that this remote corner of the world had the potential to produce exceptional wine.
It wasn’t until the 1980s, however, that a new generation of pioneering winemakers took bold risks on Central Otago’s challenging terrain. Their vision paid off. Today, with over 200 vineyards and a global reputation for Pinot Noir, Central Otago stands as one of the most exciting wine regions in the world—and we’ve had the pleasure of growing alongside it since 1992.
Sitting at 45° south, Central Otago is the southernmost winegrowing region on the planet. Vineyards here are nestled among dramatic alpine landscapes, typically at elevations of 200 to 400 metres above sea level. These high-altitude sites enjoy a rare combination of natural beauty and ideal growing conditions.
One of Central Otago’s greatest advantages is its climate. Long, sun-drenched summer days and high sunshine hours are paired with short, cool nights. This dramatic temperature shift is key to producing the region’s globally celebrated Pinot Noir—enhancing flavour concentration, preserving natural acidity, and creating wines with structure and elegance.
New Zealand produces less than 2% of the world’s wine, yet it consistently punches well above its weight in quality. Across the country, a patchwork of stunning wine regions offers something truly unique—but here in Central Otago, we like to think we’re the jewel in the crown (yes, we’re a little biased).
Tucked amongst our dramatic mountain ranges and pristine glacial valleys, this small but mighty region delivers far more than its size suggests! With a true continental climate and growing conditions often likened to Burgundy, Alsace, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Central Otago is best known for its world-class Pinot Noir—but also excels in Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling.
Each sub-region brings its own distinctive character and sense of place, contributing to the region’s reputation as one of the most exciting and acclaimed New World wine destinations.
Central Otago may be one of the smaller wine regions in New Zealand, but it’s also one of the most diverse. Each sub-region has its own distinct landscape, climate, and personality—producing wines that reflect their unique sense of place.
From rugged schist hills to glacial lakes, and from hot sun-drenched terraces to cool alpine valleys, these variations in terroir give Central Otago wines their depth, elegance, and individuality.
We proudly take you through the six Central Otago’s acclaimed sub-regions:
The northernmost of Central Otago’s sub-regions, just 80 kilometres from Queenstown, Wanaka is small but breathtaking. Nestled beside its namesake lake and sheltered by surrounding peaks, Wanaka vineyards enjoy reflected sunlight that helps mitigate frost. The slightly cooler and wetter climate produces delicate, expressive wines with lively acidity—true to their cool-climate origins.
Situated northeast of Cromwell, Bendigo is one of the warmest sub-regions in Central Otago. The vineyards are planted on sunny, north-facing slopes of stony soils, soaking up the region’s extreme summer heat and cool, clear nights. The result? Rich, bold, and concentrated Pinot Noir with structure and ageing potential.
The closest wine-growing area to Queenstown, Gibbston is also the highest and coolest sub-region. Tucked into the dramatic Kawarau Gorge, its north-facing slopes enjoy long, warm days and crisp alpine nights—perfect for producing fragrant, lighter-bodied Pinot Noir with great finesse and acidity. As the birthplace of Central Otago’s first commercial vintage in 1987, it remains an iconic and must-visit region.
Stretching along the western shores of Lake Dunstan, this sub-region combines three closely linked areas: Cromwell, Pisa, and Lowburn. Together they form the heart of Central Otago wine production. With diverse vineyard sites and a variety of soil types, the wines here are generous and approachable—often showing plush fruit, spice, and bright acidity.
Located just south of Cromwell, Bannockburn is one of Central Otago’s warmest and driest sub-regions. The area's mineral-rich soils and early-ripening vineyards produce full-bodied, complex Pinot Noir, often with earthy and dark fruit characteristics. Bannockburn's wines are known for their power, structure, and age-worthiness.
As the southernmost and driest sub-region, Alexandra has a unique climate marked by hot summers, cold winters, and large diurnal shifts. This variation is ideal for producing finely structured, aromatic wines. Alexandra is also home to some of the region’s earliest grape plantings, dating back to 1864, with Jean Désiré Féraud’s historic stone winery still standing today.As the southernmost and driest sub-region, Alexandra has a unique climate marked by hot summers, cold winters, and large diurnal shifts. This variation is ideal for producing finely structured, aromatic wines. Alexandra is also home to some of the region’s earliest grape plantings, dating back to 1864, with Jean Désiré Féraud’s historic stone winery still standing today.
Brennan
Chard Farm
Coal Pit
Cox's Vineyard
Gibbston Valley Winery
Hawkshead
High Garden Vineyard
Kinross
Mount Edward
Mt Rosa Wines
Peregrine
Valli
Waitiri Creek
Wild Irishman
Akarua
Carrick
Dicey
Felton Road
Mt Difficulty Wines
Te Kano Estate (Pictured)
Terra Sancta
Burn Cottage
Domain Thomson (Pictured)
Misha's Vineyard
Mt Michael
Quartz Reef
Rockburn
Scott Base
Wild Earth
Wooing Tree
Cloudy Bay (Pictured)
Mondillo
Moko Hills
Prophet's Rock
Amisfield
Ayrburn (Pictured)
Mora
Stoneridge Estate & Nockies Palette
Aitken's Folly Vineyard
Maude Wines
Māori Point Vineyard
Nanny Goat
Rippon (Pictured)
Como Villa Estate
Immigrant's Vineyard
Judge Rock
Monti Christo (Pictured)
Three Miners Vineyard
Two Paddocks
Join Queenstown’s original wine tour company and discover the people, places, and Pinot Noirs that make this region world-renowned. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or a curious newcomer, our expert-guided tours offer unforgettable wine experiences across the region’s most celebrated sub-regions.
Book your Central Otago wine tour today and taste the difference experience makes.
We visit a wide range of Queenstown & Central Otago wineries, with some of our most popular tours including Amisfield Winery, Peregrine Wines, Gibbston Valley Winery, Mt Difficulty, Akarua, Kinross Wines, Felton Road and Chard Farm.
