Yes, Yes, Yes! Wine tasting on the Central Otago Wine Trail

I know what you’re thinking, me too. Why do you have to wait so long for wineries to open? 11am can seem like all day when you’ve been in the parking lot since 7am. And they see you sitting there but will they open a few minutes early?  Hell no!  Good thing we brought our own!!! I know, that’s like taking sand to the beach but it’s better to be prepared!

First winery we stopped at was Amisfield vineyards. Quaint little place that had just enough room for the kiwimobile and a tour bus. The 25 or so aging relics crawled from the bus just in front of us so we decided to move on. Besides, don’t want to confuse the drool cup with the wine cup.

Across the street and hit up Stoneridge Estate Cellars. Unbelievably beautiful! The grounds of this winery are beyond words. Flower, ponds, flagstone stairs and patios, and churches, 5 of them that were reconstructed to make up the estate. This winery also serves as a popular wedding venue.

Tasting room at Stoneridge

One of the five churches re-purposed

The Estate

The wine however, not so great. Some is produced on-site but not all. They have teamed with another vintner to sell his wine in their store. No matter, neither was very good, and the tasting cost 10NZD for 4 wines. Glad we only bought one tasting.

A little further down the road to Gibbston Winery. This is a major tourist stop, plenty of room for buses and the Kiwimobile. Biggest problem here was trying to get to the tasting counter, lots of tourists. So, pass on the wine (I know, hard to believe isn’t it) and head across the parking lot to the cheesery.

What the hell is a cheesery, you ask. Well my friend, it is a place that sells cheese, what else. This one also makes the cheese so we had to try it.

Fell found of their mild, white cheese and olives. Seems a lot of the wineries here also grow olives which goes perfectly with a nice glass pf Pinot.

Dropped a few bucks on cheese and olives and tramped on down the road.

Next stop on the tour is Waitiri Creek vineyards.

Another short drive and into a small but welcoming tasting room. Again, re-purposed from a church (seems Kiwi’s have found a better use for them instead of service on Sunday’s, got to agree!), the tasting room also offered a lunch selection.

Waitiri Creek tasting room

Talking with the sommelier, waiter, cook and busboy, the story behind this winery is a bit shady. Seems the owners, him & her, decided it better to be me & the poolboy, and you and your car, than vintners. So, new owners, new service, etc.

We did a tasting of 4 wines and selected a really nice Sauvignon Blanc for later, cost around $30NZD or $21USD. Not too bad but again, white wine. Maybe I’m getting back into whites…..

Back on the trail and next stop, Peregrine Winery. Not as aesthetically pleasing as Stoneridge but way more better tasting!!  Since being washed in the Pinot, I’ve started enjoying these tastings. A nice young lady greeted us as we entered and told us we could stroll, not tramp, through their display cellar if we liked., or belly up and have a tasting. We didn’t want to appear too eager for a tasting so we strolled quickly through the cellar and made our way up to the bar. Most of the people we shoved out of the way were leaving anyway so they didn’t seem to mind.

Unique roofline of the Peregrine tasting room

Our small purchase being readied

Tasting room entrance

Excellent wines! So good we bought a bottle of the Pinot Noir (2015) for our overnight trip in the fjords. Not sure if you can find it in the States but worth asking.

Next stop, Arrowtown and a bit of NZ history.

Cheers, Mate.