It’s been hot. Really really hot here in Queenstown and Central Otago. So who wouldn’t want to go and sip wine all afternoon with Altitude Wine Tours?
We jumped aboard their gorgeous air-conditioned bus WITH wifi (for all my Instagram Stories) and set off into Gibbston, the wine makers and tasters dream destination.
Altitude Wine Tours picked us up from our driveway and shuttled us off. A wonderful introduction from manager Heidi and I knew we were in for a treat. Big girl wine pants on!
Gibbston Valley now stands with it’s head tall on the world’s wine stage with so many wineries to choose from in such a small area. The southern most wine growing region in the world.
We headed out to Gibbston Valley Winery first up for a wine cave tour and sampling. Discovering the history of this world renown winery and tasting some of the best wine this side of the whole earth hemisphere we then got aboard the bus and set off for our next destination and lunch!
Kinross is a beautiful accommodation and food destination housing some of the best wines from Hawkeshead, Coalpit Road, Valli, Wild Irishman and Domaine Thompson. Best by far; Hawkeshead Riesling. Never always take your credit card on a wine tour. I may have bought four bottles.
Settling down for lunch under a canopy shading us from the Central Otago heat is the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Mt Rosa made me slow right down as I settled into the menu of tasting nine (yes nine) perfectly wonderful wines from this incredible tiny winery. House dog (Baz) features in the dogs of wineries book and the lavender wafted over our noses to allow us to settle back for a while and hear some of the stories of the valley. So much history in this area makes me proud to have lived here for a while now. A place I can call home.
Back on the bus for the last stop and Akarua and Artisan is a new addition to Lake Hayes Road. Previously known as Walnut Cottage this hub of fine food, wine tasting and newly renovated old cottage is quickly becoming somewhere you have to book to get a seat. Beautiful gardens and their bubbles was the first for us to taste. I fell in love with their ‘Alchemy Ice’. A sweeter than sweet Gewurtztraminer and Riesling mix that I could have sipped all day. Two bottles in the bag. My bank manager had better have a good Christmas.
Altitude Wine Tours are quickly solidifying their place in the wine industry for tourists and locals like ourselves (I’m calling myself a local now, it’s time). Beautiful buses, friendly and informative staff, wonderful local wineries and a pick up service second to none.
We wobbled (slightly) off the bus and back home to reality. A gorgeous Summer’s afternoon spent languishing in history, wine and laughter.
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I was invited to spend the day with Altitude Wine Tours but if I didn’t think you’d like them, I wouldn’t write about them.
