Kinross Winery: Classic Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience

We had a lovely time at Kinross for my sister’s hens! The venue was beautiful, the food was abundant, and the service was quick and efficient. Rommel was fantastic during our wine tasting, his passion and excitement for wine made it really enjoyable. He was knowledgeable and engaging while keeping it short and sweet. A great experience all round! 🍷

Met at the counter by Francesco a delight to have as our wine advisor for our tasting Knowledgeable, accepted kiwi banter and a lovely person Great experience

Martial was an excellent, entertaining and thoughtful wine guide

Fantastic winery just outside of Queenstown. You get to sample wines from 5 small local wineries that work together as a co-op, plus learn the history of each. Brian was a fantastic tasting host and really knows his stuff.

An excellent experience. The setting and cellar door were perfectly arranged to give the feel of a private experience. The Sommelier explained the wine varieties and subtle difference in a way that was easy to understand and did not make you feel pressured to make a purchase. Highly recommended.

Good place to try all they offer. Great tasting plate too. Went organized tour out of Queenstown. Good wines and great background.

This is the third time I came over to do the wine tasting, and to eat at the restaurant. The wine tasting with Charles was fun, engaging, he is very knowledgeable and really entertaining. Always learn something new. The whole place is amazing with great atmosphere and friendly staff. The food is delicious, and of course, the wine is outstanding. Definitely recommend, particularly on a sunny afternoon.

from the time we arrived made to feel welcome and apart of the Kinross team knowledgeable and connected person explaining the wines and region great experience.

Brilliant tasting provided by Martial. Kinross showcases five wine makers, so a unique experience in the Gibbston region. The tasting was very informative but also relaxed, fun and friendly. A great experience!

We love going to Kinross . It was my birthday so it was nice to take friends and family , and let them experience Kinross. We started with lunch ,which we all enjoyed. Then we went over for the wine tasting . Each time I go to Kinross we gain a new and enjoyable experience. Thank you .

My friend and I stopped off at Kinross, and decided to do a tasting last minute. The team were really friendly and booked us straight in. Emeline was a fantastic host and took us through the different wines, explaining their provenance and explaining the region's wine production. A really enjoyable afternoon with delicious wines, would definitely recommend.

In August 2025, our group of 10 wine-loving friends—known as The Eclectics—embarked on our annual wine region tour, this time exploring the stunning Otago wine country. Having previously visited iconic regions like Margaret River, Barossa, and the Hunter Valley, our expectations were high. Over the course of our trip, we visited 12 vineyards—but Kinross stood out above them all. The wines were, of course, delicious and beautifully representative of the region, but what truly made this experience unforgettable was our incredible host, Bailey. Although relatively new to Kinross, Bailey delivered a tasting experience that was polished, passionate, and genuinely engaging. His deep knowledge of viticulture—not just generally, but specifically about Kinross and its partner wineries—was seriously impressive. He spoke with such clarity and enthusiasm that he held our full attention throughout, answering every question and sharing fascinating insights we hadn’t heard at any other cellar door. Kinross was the highlight of our Otago tour, and much of that comes down to the connection Bailey created between the wines, the land, and our group. If you’re touring the region, make sure Kinross is on your list—and if you’re lucky enough to have Bailey as your host, you’re in for something special.

This was our final stop as part of a private wine tour around the area and it was outstanding! A truly beautiful setting with beautiful wines. Thanks David for being a wonderful host - you made the whole experience so enjoyable.

Kinross has a unique Cellar Door arrangement in which they showcase 5 different local producers under one roof. This is a great concept, and one which I wish more small producers would adopt; Cellar Doors are expensive to run (I work in one, and thus understand the expenses!) The Kinross cellar door facility is modern and well-appointed; very appealing. Some of the vineyards are close at hand. And these producers aren’t “unknowns" at all, but include some of the most storied names in Central Otago wine. The wines offered during the tastings provide a decent cross-section of the producers. The results vary, but in particular, the pinots on offer (especially Valli and Wild Irishman) are just outstanding. As a fellow cellar door person, though, a few other observations. The “standard” experience feels fairly regimented, not particularly flexible in approach, and a little too aggressive on the sales and club membership aspect. Our server had his set “spiel”, and didn’t really depart from it. He then launched into a sales pitch. I get it, there are 5 wines/producers to showcase and they’re there to sell wines, but this seemed just a wee bit over the top… he needed to read the room (and the guests) a little better. The other challenge is that different, more focused (or broader) tasting experiences at Kinross generally require a 6 person minimum, so if you’re looking for something particular but have a smaller group, your choices are limited. My advice: combine a tasting session with a lunch at their bistro; the wine list there is longer, and you can easily complement the cellar door tasting with something else that appeals to you. In warmer months the Bistro is a great place to hang out. Very scenic.

Really enjoyed the wine tasting with Charles. He was charming, had a good sense of humour and got everyone involved. The wine tasting room was stunning. 10/10 would recommend

Martial was absolutely amazing, explaining every wine in depth. He included lots of information about the terrior and wine makers to make it a in-depth experience. Would 100% recommend this to any wine lover/intro to wine.

We make reservations online for two (2) Classic Wine Experience ($25UZD per person for 45 minutes wine tasting). Kinross serves as the Cellar Door for five local wineries: Valli, Coal Pit, Hawkshead, Wild Irishman, and their own label, Kinross. Our wine tasting included tastings of five local wines, as well as the stories behind the labels, the history of winemaking in the region and the talented people who created it! We were interested in tasting the Valli Pinot Noirs, which were OK. Note that food is not served during the tastings in the Cellar Door. If you want to eat, you need to make a booking at the Kinross Bistro before or after your tasting, which is located in a separate building.

Awesome tasting with Gulio. Have been before with smaller groups, this time was a larger group of 11. Gulio was great, he really knew his wines and was great at explaining things to people of all different levels of wine knowledge.