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Central Otago Wine Trail: Pinot Noir at the Edge of the World

New Zealand Winegrowers is the national industry organization for New Zealand wine, representing 700+ wineries.

The route

12 stops·6 wineries · 3 restaurants · 1 hotel · 1 activity · 1 shop

1. 01

   Hotel

   Arrival in Queenstown & Check-In

   Eichardt's Private Hotel puts you right on the Queenstown waterfront with Lake Wakatipu views, perfectly positioned for Central Otago wine exploration.

2. 02

   WineryCentral Otago

   Amisfield Winery & Bistro

   Estate Pinot Noir and Gris meet chef-driven cuisine at this Lake Hayes gem nestled in the Pisa Range foothills.

3. 03

   Restaurant

   Lunch at Amisfield Bistro

   Trust the chef's locally sourced Central Otago menu while sipping estate wines in Amisfield's laid-back cellar-door setting.

4. 04

   WineryCentral Otago

   Felton Road Winery

   Felton Road's biodynamic Bannockburn estate crafts some of Central Otago's most sought-after Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.

5. 05

   WineryCentral Otago

   Burn Cottage Vineyard

   Biodynamic Pinot Noir from Cromwell's Pisa Range that's earned serious international cred since 2008.

6. 06

   WineryOtago Region

   Mt Difficulty Wines

   Dramatic schist cliffs frame Central Otago's benchmark Pinot Noirs and a restaurant with views worth the detour alone.

7. 07

   Restaurant

   Dinner at Akarua Wines & Kitchen

   Elegant Bannockburn kitchen pairs seasonal NZ cuisine with estate Pinot Noir and sparklings from sun-soaked Cairnmuir terraces.

8. 08

   WineryCentral Otago

   The Carrick Winery

   Organic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with vineyard views from a restaurant terrace that justifies lingering through lunch.

9. 09

   WineryOtago Region

   Rippon Vineyard

   Rippon's dramatic lakeside perch on Lake Wānaka and biodynamic Pinot Noir make it Central Otago's most Instagram-worthy vineyard since 1975.

10. 10

    Restaurant

    Wānaka Lakeside Lunch at Francesca's Italian Kitchen

    Francesca's Italian Kitchen dishes up seasonal Italian fare in a laid-back lakeside setting, ideal for refueling between tastings.

11. 11

    Shop

    Cloudy Bay Cellar Door, Wānaka

    Sip exclusive Central Otago Pinot Noirs you won't find anywhere else at this Wānaka outpost of New Zealand's celebrated Cloudy Bay.

12. 12

    Activity

    Scenic Drive Back via Crown Range Road

    Wind back to Queenstown on New Zealand's highest sealed road, with schist mountains and Cardrona Valley views rewarding every curve.