Gibbston Valley

Gibbston is a narrow terrace above the Kawarau Gorge at around 320 to 420 metres, and it is the coolest and latest-ripening of the Central Otago subregions - harvest here can run weeks behind Bannockburn. That makes for pinot noir with more structure and higher acid, and riesling and pinot gris that hold their line. Planting began in the 1980s when the accepted wisdom was that Central Otago was too cold for grapes at all. The valley's best-known feature is a wine cave blasted into the schist hillside, the largest in the country, used for barrel ageing and open on guided tours with tasting. The Gibbston River Trail runs along the Kawarau below the vineyards and links several cellar doors, so cycling between them is realistic. The Kawarau bungy bridge is at the valley's Queenstown end, which means a certain amount of shared traffic.

What you actually see

• The gorge terraces - vineyards at 320 to 420 metres above the Kawarau.
• The wine cave - blasted into schist, the largest barrel cave here.
• The late harvest - the coolest Central Otago subregion, ripening last.
• The river trail - a cycleway linking cellar doors along the Kawarau.

When to go

November to April; harvest is April, later than the rest of Central Otago. Cellar doors keep reduced winter hours. Book cave tours and restaurant tables in summer.

Honest expectations

Tastings are charged and cave tours are a separate ticket. It is on the main Queenstown road and busy with coach traffic. Winter closes several cellar doors or shortens their hours.

Nearby

The Kawarau bungy bridge is at the valley entrance; Cromwell and Bannockburn are east.