Wine Tour South Island 4 Days/4 Nights

Start Queenstown, finish Blenheim
Taste: Gibbston Valley, Central Otago, Waipara and Marlborough

If you are a devoted follower of fine Pinot Noir, delicious Riesling, and world renowned Sauvignon Blanc, and you want to tie it all together with stunning scenery and luxurious accommodation, then this is the ultimate New Zealand wine tour for you.

Your guide is also a huge fan of the liquid stuff that has been around for centuries! So you are in well kept hands with knowledge of the wine regions and their specialties.

On your New Zealand wine tour you will meet winemakers, discuss vintages, slurp, swirl and taste more than 70 different New Zealand wines from over 15 wineries! Sounds good? Keep reading…..

Day 1. Queenstown to Central Otago - wine region: Gibbston Valley

We begin your South Island wine tour from Queenstown, and meet you at your accommodation or the airport. We start the morning with two of Gibbston Valleys outstanding wineries Chard Farm and Peregrine, then on to the Amisfield wine company for their award winning Bistro lunch and tasting. After lunch you will spend the afternoon exploring the beautifully historic and boutique Arrowtown before continuing to the heart of Central Otago and Lake Dunstan.

Your accommodation tonight is Aoturoa luxury villa, surrounded by mountain, river and vineyard views. Tonight you will experience the ‘dinner with the winemakers’, a personal dinner with the owners of Pisa Range Estate and experience their award winning Pinot Noir matched with delicious food and a tour of their vineyard.

Wine tour includes: Bistro lunch, wine tastings, dinner with the wine makers, and vineyard tour
Accommodation: 5 Star Luxury Villa

Day 2. Central Otago to Lake Tekapo – wine region: Central Otago

After breakfast we depart for Bannockburn. This sub- region of Central Otago is reknown for some of the finest Pinot Noir produced in New Zealand. Visiting 2 or 3 wineries in this area we can include Mt Difficulty, Felton Rd, Quartz Reef or Akarua wineries, all of whom are well recieved on the international market. Lunch will be at one of these beautiful vineyard restaurants. From Bannockburn our wine tour takes us north via New Zealand’s most stunning blue glacial lakes and views of white capped Mount Cook, our highest peak at 3754 m.

Arriving in Lake Tekapo late afternoon, we check into your accommodation Peppers Bluewater resort with views over the lake. It is just a short stroll to the Alpine Springs and Spa hot pools where you can soak away any aches with a sauna, steam and hot pools entry. Enjoy the lake and mountain views from these glacial fed hot pools. If you are feeling active, Mt John observatory is a breathtaking 45min hike up the hill to more fantastic views. Reward yourself with a coffee by the regions finest baristas!

Wine tour includes: breakfast, lunch at vineyard restaurant, wine tastings, and entry to hot springs
Accommodation: 4-5 star resort hotel

Day 3. Lake Tekapo to Kaikoura – wine region: Waipara

We depart after breakfast, and continue north to the home of Riesling and aromatics. The Waipara wine region is located 45 min north of Christchurch. Our stop on this leg of the wine tour is the famous Pegasus Bay, where their award winning range of wines and dedication to excellence have stood the test of time. Tastings and lunch are included at their award winning restaurant before we continue driving north to the bountiful coastal town of Kaikoura. Your accommodation tonight will be at a premium self-contained apartment located a stones throw from the ocean, including a delicious dinner at a local Kaikoura restaurant.

Wine tour includes: breakfast, lunch at Pegasus Bay, wine tastings, 3 course dinner
Accommodation: 5 Star apartment

Day 4. Kaikoura to Blenheim – wine region: Marlborough

Departing after a leisurely breakfast we drive a short distance via the coastal highway to the home of new world Sauvignon Blanc, the variety that put New Zealand on the wine lovers map. Wineries including Auntsfield, Villa Maria, bio-dynamic Seresin and Cloudy Bay will be visited or as many as we can fit in the day. Swirl, taste and spit will be our wine tour focus today as we have the opportunity to try many world class wines, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir and dessert wines. During the day we include in a relaxed lunch at Highfield Estate vineyard.

Your final nights accommodation will be in a well appointed, spacious cottage in a secluded vineyard location. Here is our tour farewell as we leave you in these wonderful surroundings.

Wine tour includes: Breakfast, lunch, wine tastings
Accommodation: 5 star boutique cottage

Book this Tour or visit ENTHUSIAST WINE TOURS to experience our scheduled small group wine tours throughout scenic New Zealand.

Tour package includes: Breakfast, lunch at Wither Hills, wine tastings.
Accommodation: 5 Star bed and breakfast