Top Invercargill Wine Tours: A Taste of Southland

Alright, so you’re thinking about checking out some wine tours around Invercargill? You know, Invercargill, that really friendly city down in Southland, New Zealand, that’s almost the bottom of the world! You might be surprised, too, is that, even though it’s known more for its beautiful scenery and, that Southern hospitality, there’s actually some really amazing wine experiences you can get into nearby. We’re gonna check out, maybe, some of the best wine tours you can find around Invercargill, offering everything from, your casual tasting to full-blown vineyard tours. Basically, expect some incredible views, fantastic local wines, that sort of down-to-earth charm that Southland’s known for. If you’re someone that is super into wine or just after a fun, different day out, then I would expect one of these tours will totally tick the box! Check the local offerings in Invercargill to make sure you enjoy Southland, NZ!

1. A Day Trip to Central Otago Wineries

Alright, so technically, this option means travelling a little bit further afield from Invercargill, yet, hear me out, because the Central Otago wine region is actually a day trip. A pretty worthy day trip. You know, it is, arguably, one of New Zealand’s top spots for wine, especially if you love a good Pinot Noir. That first sip of a glass from the Otago wine region is, well, just something else! What you’re going to want to do, arguably, is set aside a whole day. This lets you check out a couple of the boutique wineries and vineyards this place has to offer. As I was saying, most tours, anyway, will grab you right from Invercargill. Typically, they’ll take you on a scenic drive to places such as Queenstown or Gibbston Valley. Once you are there, too, that’s where the tasting really gets started. Expect beautiful, powerful reds, delicate whites and just breathtaking scenery while you’re sipping away. Pretty worth it, really, especially when the Pinot Noir flows. This sounds great!

2. Boutique Winery Tour near Invercargill

You see, now if you’d like to stay closer to Invercargill, it’s almost a very solid idea to check out any local boutique wineries that you might find there. You will often find smaller vineyards that have this special, kinda intimate feel. Typically, the owners are totally hands-on. Like, they do the wine making themselves! This also, allows you to meet them, learn more about growing grapes in the south and also what it means to deal with that Southland weather. And so you will find smaller vineyards often offer personalised tastings. Expect something more unique than just the average. You’ll want to check locally and see what these venues have to offer. Pretty much the vibe you want to go for.

3. Self-Guided Wine Tasting Adventure

Alright, so if you like doing things your own way, doing a self-guided wine tour gives you this complete freedom to explore everything at your own pace. You could start with a little research to see what wine spots exist that might be accessible from Invercargill. Then, too it’s pretty simple, you just plan a route, grab yourself a map and then basically off you go! You will also be surprised that renting a vehicle might be an awesome idea for reaching multiple locations. If that is the case, though, then it’s arguably better to rope in a designated driver or book with a driver-for-hire so that you actually have some opportunities to enjoy the wines safely. Actually, self-guided can mean more spontaneity and more exploring that speaks to you.

4. Wine and Food Pairing Experiences

You know, so many wineries have started offering some awesome pairings. Really, these can be cool opportunities to taste what magic happens when you pair some great local wines with local cuisine. These pairings are, usually, structured as guided sessions and are really very informative. Often you get detailed explanations on why wines actually complement certain flavors. I’ve experienced it, you get opportunities, too, it’s almost like tasting different things, exploring what works. You’ll get shown that food really affects the qualities of the wine as well as vice versa. If you’re after just an elevated tasting where everything feels balanced, then a food pairing may just be that choice you need to elevate your wine experience!

5. Exclusive Wine Events and Festivals

So, it’s not something always running all year around, yet keeping your eyes peeled for wine festivals or specific events around Invercargill will definitely pay off. Especially since you may get a chance to sample stuff from multiple wineries. Often these sorts of events are just a great opportunity to chat with other enthusiasts. I think the actual Southland Wine and Food Festival may well be something you’d enjoy, especially if it comes around to the region. Typically, such festivals also involve entertainment, that kind of atmosphere and local artisan vendors as a combination that, arguably, makes that event memorable! In fact, keeping your eyes peeled may bring about the greatest adventures, you’ll never know what could appear!