Some NZ cellar doors on the road between Wanaka and Queenstown

[Alex F]

I am writing this post mainly to give a plug to Aurum wines which had some of the most distinctive, unique wines I have tasted for a long time.

I made a stop at 4 wineries along the highway. It is very convenient but of course there are many more wineries off the highway. At two you had to pay* for tastings and the other two had free tastings. The glassware was universally superb. Most had white, then red glasses. The pours were sometimes quite small.

Aurum
We had driven past many vineyards with fancy signs but no cellar door, so we were getting a bit desperate and turned it to this one which I had never heard of. It turned out to be amazing. Wines were under some vacuum preservation system and the glassware here was amazing. Tastings were free. The 2014 pinot gris and riesling had amazing character with toasty, earthy notes that seemed to be from barrel aging but was not. The riesling in particular was long, citrusy, and complete on the palate, and held up well over three days. All the pinots here were restrained and delicate, the two non-standard ones were complex and very interesting, with the top of the range ($85) one mouth filling and long. Regret not getting some of their pinot especially in comparison to the rest we tasted.

I highly recommend every one stop by here. They have a good selection of back vintages on sale at quite reasonably prices. The only downside was the small pour sizes.

Peregrine
The whites here were bland and over priced. Tried the pinot gris, dry rieesling, and sweeter riesling. The pinot was a surprise. First the price was higher than I remembered it to be in Australia. Second, they had a cellared version to taste alongside the new release. That was a very nice touch and hence it is a recommended stop for pinot noobs like me. The new release (2014?) was undistinctive, not bad, but not good at $45. The 2010 cellar release was more complex with forest floor aromas in the beautiful nose. Both pinots were quite darkly fruited. Tasting is free here.

Gibbston Valley
We were told we could not miss this as it is a huge complex attached to a cheese shop/factory. My wife immediately said Mcguigans of the hunter valley? Expectations were not high but I vaguely remember them from somewhere. You are charged for tastings here. Due to limited time I tried the flight of 4 speciality pinot noirs, I think 3 were single vineyard and the last was the reserve ($120 a bottle). For $15 a tasting you would think they could be a bit more generous with the pours. Anyway, the wines (all 2014 I believe) each had their own distinctive character and were interesting. The reserve pinot was quite good, and by far the oakiest pinot I had on the trip.

Chard Farm
Another winery not to be missed. It is spectacular. Their 2 km driveway winds its way along the gorge. The river is about a 30m drop off the egde. Too many tastes and your car and body will probably never be found again. Tastings here are by $10 donation to a local hospice, refundable on purchase.

I liked the Chardonnay and I think it was quite good value at $30. The river run pinot 2014 was a bit sweet and simple, I felt a bit over priced at $33. The 2014 Finla Mor and Mata-au are both good wines priced in the mid 40s and struck a good balance between the really cheap, and expensive wines met on this trip. Buying a 3 pack of these wines netted a $10 discount, and they ship cases for free to Australia! They had one of three of their top tier pinots for tasting, the MK II pinot noir 2012, which was eucalypty and quite unforgiving at this stage.

Beware of the speed camera on the way out.

[JamieBahrain]

Thanks Alex

Doing that drive in reverse tomorrow. Will do Chard Farm I noted it today I'm a drive to Mt difficulty for lunch ex Queenstown. Looked great.

Gibbston Valley a shocker . Never done it before but walked in and out. Rip off vibe .

[PDG]

Thanks Alex

Doing that drive in reverse tomorrow. Will do Chard Farm I noted it today I'm a drive to Mt difficulty for lunch ex Queenstown. Looked great.

Gibbston Valley a shocker . Never done it before but walked in and out. Rip off vibe .

How did you find Mt Difficulty for lunch? I'm heading there in mid January and am looking for a birthday lunch spot.

Cheers!

[TiggerK]

Haven't been to Mt Difficulty for food (although a fan of their wine), but in the area, Amisfield is a great lunch spot. Arrowtown is properly beautiful and probably has a really good lunch option or two as well, but it's been a few years, so can't be specific on short notice.

[Wizz]

In the Bannockburn area, Mt Diff or Carrick are great lunch spots, and for something low key and casual, the Bannockburn Cafe is a real surprise as well (perhaps not first choice for a birthday lunch though).

Amisfield is well regarded, although I haven't eaten there.

At Arrowtown - Saffron is the pick for a high quality meal,

[JamieBahrain]

Mt Difficulty was delightful! Great food and service and good wine choices by the glass ( as you'd expect ).

[Redav]

Arrowtown is properly beautiful and probably has a really good lunch option or two as well,

It is. Best pies I ever had came from the bakery on the corner.

[michel]

Amisfield is awesome for lunch
V smart
Great birthday place

[Wizz]

Arrowtown is properly beautiful and probably has a really good lunch option or two as well,

It is. Best pies I ever had came from the bakery on the corner.

Second the bakery pies - a treat.

[Redav]

I hope this wasn't one of you;

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/a ... t3a3t.html

For what it's worth, the best steak sandwich I've ever had (huge and delicious) was from an organic cafe in Glenorchy so at least they were going in the right direction!

[michel]

I hope this wasn't one of you;

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/a ... t3a3t.html

For what it's worth, the best steak sandwich I've ever had (huge and delicious) was from an organic cafe in Glenorchy so at least they were going in the right direction!

Twas not me!

[JamieBahrain]

Amisfield has fallen away according to local scuttlebutt.

In vogue amongst the locals is Akarua Kitchen & Winery a few minutes on from Amisfield . Delightful food though there’s little discount in their wines considering a cellar door winery . We had a few bottles of their Kolo single vineyard Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2016 at $145 a bottle .

I don’t believe they understand their wines. If sitting outside and it’s chilly ask to leave your bottles inside otherwise they chill too much and present too acidic!