Queenstown Gin, Wine & Beer Tour | Adults Only

Queenstown’s best afternoon drink may be the one that refuses to pick just one drink. This adults-only tour moves from craft beer beside the Shotover River to gin in historic Arrowtown, then finishes with Central Otago wine at Amisfield. You get scenery and tasting rooms without spending a full day on the road.

I like the small vehicle and small group, which make it easier to chat with your guide and ask questions. I also like the flexible lineup: beer drinkers can enjoy a paddle, while wine drinkers can choose a wine flight at Canyon Brewing. The main caution is timing. One tasting room can feel rushed, and there is no included food, so eat before you leave.

Key points before you book

• More than 12 tastings in 3.5 hours: You sample wine, gin, and beer in one compact afternoon.
• Three very different stops: Canyon Brewing offers river views, Rifters Gin occupies Dudley’s Cottage in Arrowtown, and Amisfield brings Central Otago wine into the picture.
• A real small-group setup: The tour is limited to about 10 people, though the booking details also mention a maximum of 11.
• Useful 3 pm start: You have most of the day free before the tour, then return to Queenstown around 6:30 pm.
• Local guides shape the day: Emma, Lee, and Gessica are named as guides associated with the experience.
• Bring food into your plan: Tastings are included, but a cheese platter or meal is not.

Why this three-drink format works in Queenstown

Queenstown is often treated as a base for big outdoor activities. That is part of its appeal, but a tasting tour gives you a slower way to see the area. In one afternoon, you leave the central streets, follow the road toward the Shotover River, visit Arrowtown, and sample products made in the region.

The format also solves a common group problem. You may be keen on wine while your partner prefers beer, or you may want gin without committing to a full gin-focused outing. Here, the choices are spread across the afternoon. You can compare styles instead of spending three hours at one type of venue.

The tour includes more than 12 tastings, alcoholic drinks, transport, and live commentary. At $166.93 per person, it is not a bargain if you only want a couple of drinks. The value improves if you want several hosted tastings, a guide, scenic transport, and three established venues without arranging a designated driver.

The experience is also adults only, with a minimum drinking age of 18. That keeps the tone focused on tasting and conversation. It is best for adults who enjoy trying different products, not for anyone seeking a late-night bar crawl.

Canyon Brewing beside the Shotover River

The first proper stop is Canyon Brewing, about 45 minutes into the outing. Its setting is a major part of the appeal. The brewery sits near the Shotover River, with views toward the dramatic Shotover area and surrounding alpine scenery.

You can choose a tasting paddle of local craft beers or, if beer is not your thing, a wine flight. That choice is practical rather than decorative. It means a mixed group does not have to split up or sit through a drink style they dislike.

Canyon is a good opening stop because beer gives the afternoon an easy start. A paddle lets you compare several brews in smaller pours, while the guide and brewery staff provide context about what is in your glass. The visit lasts about 45 minutes, so you get time to taste and look around without turning it into a long meal stop.

The limitation is simple: the tour description does not include food at Canyon. The brewery has a restaurant, but any meal or snack you buy there is separate from the tour price. Since the afternoon includes alcohol and ends around 6:30 pm, eating before departure is sensible. One previous participant specifically advised doing so, and that is good practical advice.

Rifters Gin in Arrowtown’s Dudley’s Cottage

Next comes Rifters Gin in historic Arrowtown. The tasting room is located in Dudley’s Cottage, which gives this stop a more intimate feel than a modern production hall. The building itself helps connect the tasting to Arrowtown’s older character.

Rifters makes small-batch gin in New Zealand, using local grain, selected botanicals, and pure artesian water. The hosted tasting explains the grain-to-glass process and gives you a chance to compare several gin choices.

This is likely the most guided stop of the three. Staff such as Phillip have been singled out for making the gin presentation especially engaging, while the tour guides help tie the visit into the wider Queenstown area. If you are new to gin, this is useful because the tasting is not just a row of glasses. You learn why the botanical mix changes the character of each pour.

The 45-minute visit is long enough for a focused tasting but not enough for an extended distillery tour. You should think of Rifters as a tasting-room experience with production insight, rather than a full behind-the-scenes factory visit.

Arrowtown also gives the itinerary a change of pace. You are no longer beside a river brewery. You are in a compact historic settlement, tasting gin inside an older cottage. That contrast is one of the tour’s strongest features.

Amisfield’s Central Otago finish

The final stop is Amisfield Cellar Door, an award-winning winery with a dramatic stone building and views of the surrounding Central Otago countryside. The setting gives the tour a proper wine-country finish.

Amisfield is known for elegant Central Otago wines, and the cellar door offers a chance to focus on the region’s wine style after the beer and gin tastings. The venue feels more polished than the earlier stops, so it works well as the closing chapter of the afternoon.

You should keep an eye on the clock here. The listed stop is about 45 minutes, and that may feel tight if the group is tasting several wines. A previous experience of the tour found the winery portion rushed, with five wines needing to fit into the available time. If wine is your main reason for booking, this is the stop to ask the guide about early in the afternoon.

That said, ending at Amisfield makes sense. By this point, you have sampled three different kinds of local drinks and can focus on the wines without needing to save time for another transfer. You return to the Marmolada Cafe meeting point in central Queenstown when the afternoon is over.

The guides make the difference

The tour uses local wine guides, and the guide is more than a driver here. Live commentary is included, along with local information about Queenstown and the places you visit.

Emma has been associated with the tour and is praised for sharing wine knowledge as well as practical suggestions for Queenstown and nearby areas. Lee is another named guide, appreciated for her expertise and easy conversation. Gessica is also mentioned in connection with the afternoon route.

Those details matter because the itinerary is not built around long formal talks. Much of the value comes from the guide filling in the gaps between tastings, answering questions, and keeping the group moving. A good guide can also help a mixed group make the most of the beer, gin, and wine choices.

Bella, the tour dog, may also join the ride. Her presence is not guaranteed as a formal feature of every departure, but she is part of the experience when she comes along. If you like a warm, social tour rather than a strictly polished corporate presentation, that small touch may appeal.

Mercedes Sprinter transport and group size

Transport is provided in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter. You do not need to drive after the tastings, plan parking at three venues, or work out how to connect Queenstown with Arrowtown.

The small-group format is important. The tour is advertised for a maximum of 10 people, although the additional booking information mentions 11. Either way, this is much smaller than a large coach outing. You can hear the guide, ask questions, and move through tastings without feeling like you are part of a crowd.

The meeting point is Marmolada Cafe at 43 Camp Street in Queenstown. The tour starts at 3 pm and ends back there. That schedule is one of the best practical features. You can use the morning and early afternoon for another Queenstown activity, then enjoy a drink-focused outing without losing the entire day.

The tour needs at least four bookings to operate. If that minimum is not reached, an alternative date or experience, or a full refund, is offered. For a full refund after booking, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Late cancellations and changes are not accepted.

How much value is $166.93?

At $166.93 per person, the price sits in the premium afternoon-tour range. You are paying for a guided route, a Mercedes Sprinter, more than 12 tastings, and visits to three separate producers.

The price is easier to justify if you would otherwise book separate tastings or need a private ride. It also covers the convenience of moving between Queenstown, the Shotover area, and Arrowtown while someone else handles the road.

The value is less clear for light drinkers. If you prefer one glass of wine and a scenic drive, the number of tastings may feel excessive. The tour is built for curious drinkers who want variety, not for someone looking for a quiet winery visit with a long lunch.

Food is the one obvious extra cost. There is no included cheese platter, tapas plate, or meal. You may be able to buy food at a venue, but you should not count on the included tastings to replace lunch or dinner. Plan to eat beforehand or budget for something along the way.

Who will enjoy this afternoon most?

I would recommend this tour to adults who want several kinds of tasting in one outing. It is a particularly good fit for couples, friends, and adult family groups with different drink preferences.

It also suits first-time visitors who want a quick sense of the area beyond central Queenstown. The route introduces you to the Shotover River, Arrowtown, and Central Otago wine without asking you to organize several transfers.

You may want another type of tour if wine is your only interest. The beer and gin stops take up a large part of the afternoon, and the final winery visit can feel short. Similarly, people looking for a full brewery tour, a full distillery tour, or a long winery lunch should choose a more specialized experience.

The pace is social and fairly full. You will taste, listen, travel, and taste again. It is relaxed in tone, but the schedule does not leave much room to linger at every venue.

My call: book it for variety, not for a long lunch

Book this Queenstown tour if you like trying different drinks, want a small group, and value scenery and easy transport as much as the tastings themselves. Canyon Brewing, Rifters Gin, and Amisfield give the afternoon three distinct settings, and guides such as Emma and Lee add useful local context.

Skip it if you want a slow, food-centered winery day or if you plan to drink very lightly. The lack of included food and the possibly rushed Amisfield stop are real considerations.

For most adults seeking a compact Queenstown tasting route, the mix is the point. Eat first, keep your afternoon free from about 3 pm to 6:30 pm, and expect a friendly, drink-focused outing rather than a formal wine seminar.

FAQ

Where does the Queenstown Gin, Wine and Beer Tour start?

It starts at Marmolada Cafe, 43 Camp Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 3 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes and ends back at the meeting point.

What tastings are included?

Alcoholic tastings of wine, beer, and gin are included, with more than 12 tastings across the afternoon.

Which venues does the tour visit?

The route includes Canyon Brewing, Rifters Gin in historic Arrowtown, and Amisfield Cellar Door.

Can I choose wine instead of beer at Canyon Brewing?

Yes. At Canyon Brewing, you can choose a craft beer tasting paddle or a wine flight.

Is the tour open to children?

No. The experience is exclusively for adults aged 18 and over, and the minimum drinking age is 18.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour is described as a small-group experience with a maximum of 10 travelers. Another booking detail lists a maximum of 11, so the exact limit may vary slightly.

Is food included?

No. Alcoholic tastings, transport, live commentary, and a local guide are included, but food is not. Eating before the tour is recommended.

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.