Queenstown Gin, Wine & Beer Tour | Adults Only

Queenstown is at its best when you leave the town center, and this small-group tasting tour makes that easy. In three and a half hours, you visit a riverside brewery, a gin room in historic Arrowtown, and Amisfield’s elegant cellar door, with more than 12 tastings across beer, gin, and wine.

I like the mix of drinks, since your group does not have to agree on one favorite tipple. I also like the 3pm start, which leaves most of the day free for Queenstown’s other pursuits. The one drawback is timing: the final winery visit can feel rushed, and there is no food included, so eat before setting off.

Key points at a glance

• Three very different tasting stops: Canyon Brewing, Rifters Gin, and Amisfield Winery each offer a distinct setting and style.
• More than 12 tastings: You can sample craft beer, New Zealand gin, and Central Otago wine in one afternoon.
• A genuine small-group outing: The tour is capped at 10 people, making conversation with your guide easier.
• A useful 3pm departure: You get a full morning and early afternoon for other Queenstown plans.
• Scenic transport included: A luxury Mercedes Sprinter takes you from Marmolada Cafe around the Queenstown area and back.
• Adults only: Everyone must be at least 18, and the minimum drinking age applies throughout.

Why this Queenstown tasting tour works

Many tasting outings ask you to pick one lane: wine, beer, or spirits. This one lets you sample all three. That matters if you are traveling with a mixed group, or if you simply want a broader taste of the Central Otago drinks scene without arranging several separate visits.

The setting helps, too. This is not a string of tasting counters in central Queenstown. You head toward the Shotover River, Arrowtown, and the wine country beyond town. The drive gives you a look at the surrounding alpine scenery while your guide fills in local details and points out places you might want to return to.

The tour runs for about three hours and 30 minutes, starting at Marmolada Cafe on Camp Street at 3pm. It returns to the same meeting point at roughly 6:30pm. That schedule is smart for a Queenstown holiday. You can spend the morning hiking, shopping, or taking part in another activity, then enjoy a relaxed afternoon of tastings.

The group size is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. The published limit is 10 people, so this should feel more personal than a large coach outing. The experience requires at least four bookings to operate, so keep that condition in mind when planning around a fixed date.

Canyon Brewing beside the Shotover River

Your first major stop is Canyon Brewing, set near the Shotover River with views toward Skippers Canyon. The location gives the outing an immediate sense of place. You are not only tasting beer, you are doing it in one of the dramatic river settings that makes Queenstown memorable.

The usual option is a beer tasting paddle featuring local brews. If beer is not your thing, you can choose a wine flight instead. That flexibility is especially useful for couples or families of adults with different drinking habits.

Allow about 45 minutes here. That is enough time to try the available pours, take in the view, and listen to the guide’s commentary without turning the stop into a full meal break. Canyon Brewing also has a restaurant, but the tour does not include food. If you tend to feel alcohol quickly, eat before departure rather than counting on a meal during the outing.

The main appeal here is the combination of scenery and variety. The stop gives beer drinkers a proper reason to look forward to the tour, while the wine alternative keeps the group together. You might find the brewery’s setting more memorable than the tasting itself, especially if you have already visited several breweries elsewhere in New Zealand.

Rifters Gin in Arrowtown’s Dudley’s Cottage

From the river, the tour continues to Rifters Gin in historic Arrowtown. The tasting room is located in Dudley’s Cottage, which gives this stop a more intimate feel than the open brewery setting.

Rifters produces small-batch gin in New Zealand using botanicals and pure artesian water. The hosted tasting explains the grain-to-glass process and gives you a chance to compare different gin styles. This is the part of the afternoon where the guide and tasting-room host can add real value. You are not simply handed a drink. You get some context about how the spirit is made and what shapes its flavor.

Plan on about 45 minutes here. That should provide enough time for several pours and a clear explanation of the products. Phillip, one of the hosts praised in the tour feedback, was especially effective at bringing the gin tasting to life. The tour’s guides, including Emma and Lee, also receive strong praise for their local suggestions and easy conversation.

Arrowtown makes this stop particularly appealing. The town has a different character from Queenstown, and the cottage setting feels more connected to the region’s past. You do not need to plan a separate Arrowtown visit to reach the tasting room, which is helpful if your Queenstown schedule is tight.

Gin can be the most unfamiliar part of this experience for some people. If you usually drink wine or beer, ask questions and take your time. The point is to notice the botanical flavors, not to rush through the pours.

Amisfield and the final Central Otago wines

The last stop is Amisfield Cellar Door, one of the best-known winery settings on the route. The stone building houses the cellar door and acclaimed restaurant, with broad views around it. Here, the focus returns to wine, especially the elegant styles associated with Central Otago.

The exact wine lineup can change, but the stop allows about 45 minutes. Past tour feedback notes that five wines may be served during the final tasting. That is a fair amount to cover near the end of an afternoon, particularly after beer and gin, so pay attention to the pace and use the spit or water options if offered by the venue.

Amisfield is a strong finish because it provides a polished winery setting after the more casual brewery and cottage visits. You can compare the region’s wine style with the gin and beer you have just tasted, rather than treating each stop as an isolated sample.

The drawback is the schedule. One person found the winery stop a little rushed, and that is worth taking seriously. If the group arrives late or the earlier tastings run long, you may have less time to linger at Amisfield. A food pairing is not included, either. The venue may offer food for purchase, but do not assume a cheese plate or tapas is part of the tour price.

The guides shape the afternoon

The vehicle and venues matter, but the guide has a large effect on this kind of outing. Alpine Wine Tours uses local guides such as Emma and Lee, and their role goes beyond driving between stops. Live commentary is included, along with local information about Queenstown and the surrounding area.

Emma is particularly useful if you want practical suggestions for the rest of your stay. Her local advice covers Queenstown and nearby areas, which can help you decide where to eat, what to see, or how to arrange another outing.

Lee is described as warm, well informed, and easy to chat with. That is exactly the right style for a small afternoon tour. You have enough time to ask questions without feeling that the guide is delivering a nonstop lecture.

There may also be a furry passenger. Bella, the company’s wine tour dog, sometimes joins the ride. Her presence is not guaranteed, but it can add a friendly touch to the trip. If you are not comfortable around dogs, keep that possibility in mind before booking.

What the Mercedes Sprinter adds

Transport is included in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter. You meet at Marmolada Cafe, 43 Camp Street, in central Queenstown, and return there at the end. That arrangement removes the need to find a sober driver or work out separate transfers between Queenstown, Arrowtown, and the tasting venues.

The vehicle is also important because the tour includes alcohol at several stops. Driving yourself would force someone in your party to skip the tasting, while taxis between venues could become costly and awkward. With the provided transport, everyone can take part.

The tour uses a small group, with a maximum of 10 people stated in the tour details. A compact group usually means less waiting at each stop and more room for direct conversation with the guide. It also makes the outing a better fit for couples, solo visitors, and small groups who prefer a social setting without a large bus.

Mobile ticketing keeps the meeting process simple. Still, arrive at Marmolada Cafe before the 3pm departure time. The tour returns to the same place, which makes it easy to plan dinner afterward.

Is the $166.93 price fair?

At $166.93 per person, this is not a cheap tasting afternoon. The price needs to be judged against what is included: more than 12 alcoholic tastings, transport in a luxury vehicle, a local guide, commentary, and entry to three established venues.

Booking the stops separately would require transport planning and a sober driver. You would also lose the guide’s local context and the easy movement between beer, gin, and wine. For visitors who want all three categories in one outing, the package offers solid convenience.

The value is less clear if you only want a long, wine-focused afternoon. Amisfield receives about 45 minutes rather than several hours, and the tour does not include lunch, a cheese platter, or tapas. If your priority is an unhurried cellar-door visit, a dedicated wine tour may suit you better.

I would also factor in the number of tastings. More than 12 pours sounds generous, but it can be a lot without food. Eat before you go, drink water when available, and do not feel obliged to finish every sample. A good tasting is about comparing flavors, not keeping pace.

Who should book this adults-only outing?

This tour suits you if you want a broad introduction to Queenstown’s drinks scene and do not want to spend your holiday organizing transport. It is also a good choice for mixed groups, since beer drinkers, gin fans, and wine lovers all get a proper stop.

The 18-plus rule makes it a natural fit for couples, adult birthday outings, and small celebrations. The group size keeps the mood social, but not crowded. If you enjoy asking questions and chatting with a local guide, you should get more from this than from a self-guided tasting.

It may not suit you if you dislike alcohol, need a full meal during an afternoon outing, or want to spend a long time at one winery. The schedule is fixed, and each stop receives roughly 45 minutes. You are sampling three parts of the region, not settling into one venue for the day.

People with limited mobility should check their needs before booking. The tour is suitable for most participants and is near public transportation, but the supplied details do not give specific information about steps or wheelchair access at every stop.

Timing, cancellation, and practical details

Book for the 3pm start at Marmolada Cafe, 43 Camp Street, Queenstown. The activity ends back at the same meeting point around 6:30pm. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the tour accepts mobile tickets.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. The tour also needs a minimum of four people to operate. If that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

A few simple choices will improve the afternoon:

• Eat before the 3pm meeting time.
• Wear something comfortable for a half-day outing outside Queenstown.
• Leave room in your evening schedule for dinner after the 6:30pm return.
• Tell your guide which drinks interest you most.
• Use the wine option at Canyon Brewing if beer is not your preference.
• Pace yourself across the 12 or more tastings.

Should you book the Queenstown Gin, Wine and Beer Tour?

Book it if you want variety, scenery, and simple transport in one relaxed afternoon. Canyon Brewing gives you the Shotover River setting, Rifters adds a close look at New Zealand gin in Arrowtown, and Amisfield brings Central Otago wine to the finish.

I would choose this tour for a mixed-drink group or for a first visit to Queenstown when you want local flavor without spending a full day on a single wine route. I would skip it in favor of a longer wine-only outing if you care most about an unhurried cellar-door experience or included food.

For the right group, the $166.93 fee buys more than drinks. It buys a sensible route, a sober ride, local advice from guides such as Emma and Lee, and a small setting where the afternoon can feel friendly rather than mass-produced.

FAQ

How long is the Queenstown Gin, Wine and Beer Tour?

The tour lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes. It begins at 3pm and ends back at the Queenstown meeting point at about 6:30pm.

Where does the tour start and finish?

You meet at Marmolada Cafe, 43 Camp Street, Queenstown 9300. The tour returns to the same meeting point.

What tastings are included?

The experience includes alcoholic tastings of wine, beer, and gin, with more than 12 tastings in total. At Canyon Brewing, you can choose a craft beer paddle or a wine flight.

Which venues does the tour visit?

The route includes Canyon Brewing near the Shotover River, Rifters Gin in historic Arrowtown’s Dudley’s Cottage, and Amisfield Cellar Door.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. This is an adults-only experience, and all participants must be at least 18 years old.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.