Gibbston

Gibbston is the valley on the far side of the Kawarau Gorge, twenty minutes east of Queenstown on SH6. It is not a town — there is no shop, no fuel, no centre — it is a farming and grape-growing district with a tavern in the middle of it and vines running along the valley floor.

Why the wine works here

This is one of the highest and coolest grape-growing districts in New Zealand, and the growers here will tell you that is the point rather than the problem. The days are hot and the nights drop away sharply, which holds acid in the fruit while the flavour develops, and the season is long. The risk is frost, at both ends of it. The result is Pinot Noir with structure, and good Riesling and Pinot Gris besides.

Cellar doors

These are open to visitors. Hours change with the season, and several are appointment-only in winter, so check before you drive out.

• Gibbston Valley Winery, the biggest operation in the valley, with a wine cave, restaurant and cheesery.
• Chard Farm, down a narrow shingle road above the river — the drive is part of the experience.
• Peregrine, with the winery building under its curved roof.
• Brennan.
• Kinross, which pours several small labels from one cellar door.
• Mt Rosa.
• Waitiri Creek, now at the Woolshed at 91 Gibbston Back Road. Note they have moved off the old church site, and winter is by appointment.
• The Gibbston Tavern, which runs its own tasting room alongside the pub.

If you have read about a cellar door here that is not on this list, check it still exists — several have moved to Cromwell or closed to the public in recent years.

Go with a driver or a tour. The gorge road is not somewhere to be making judgement calls about how much you have had, and the police know exactly where the wineries are.

The trail

The Gibbston River Trail runs along the Kawarau from the bridge, and links into the wider Queenstown Trails network, so you can ride between cellar doors rather than drive. It is the sensible way to do a tasting day. Bike hire and shuttle operators in Queenstown will drop you at one end.

The bridge

At the western end of the valley, the Kawarau Bridge is where commercial bungy jumping started in 1988. It is worth stopping even if you have no intention of jumping — the viewing platforms are free and you can watch from the deck. See bungy jumping for the detail.

Nearby

Arrowtown and Lake Hayes are ten to fifteen minutes back toward town, and the Kawarau River runs the length of the gorge. For places to eat in town, see restaurants.