Our guide to the best wines and wineries in Bannockburn, New Zealand

Best wineries in Bannockburn 

The first vines were planted in Bannockburn in 1991, around a decade after Ann Pinckney first planted near Queenstown in the district’s west. Although it wasn’t officially registered as a geographical indication (GI) until February 1, 2022, its wineries and winemakers have been identifying themselves as distinct from the other subregions in Central Otago since at least 1995 when Felton Road first listed ‘Bannockburn’ on its wine labels. In the 30-odd years since John Olssen and Heather MacPherson first planted vines at Terra Sancta, this small subregion has attracted around 12 producers who have planted it almost entirely (around 80 per cent) to pinot noir; a statistic that is representative of the rest of Central Otago.

Best Bannockburn cellar doors to visit 

The cellar-door-to-winery ratio is high in Bannockburn, with most producers in the region providing somewhere for visitors to taste, dine and more. Here are five to try.  

Te Kano Estate in Bannockburn.  

Felton Road

As one of the region’s pioneer producers, a visit to Felton Road means an opportunity to taste pinot made from some of Central’s oldest vines. Visits are by appointment only, and only between Monday to Friday, but are intensive: allow around two hours for your visit, as it starts with a walk through Felton Road’s vineyards and finishes with a tasting of all current release wines.

Mt Difficulty

One of Central Otago’s most beautiful and striking cellar doors, a tasting at Mt Difficulty comes with views over the Cromwell Basin towards Lake Dunstan, smacking you in the face with Bannockburn’s rugged and rocky landscape. Once you’ve tasted the full suite of Mt Difficulty and Roaring Meg wines, head to the winery’s restaurant for a long and leisurely lunch.

Carrick

Overlooking the Kawarau River, Carrick offers a range of winery experiences. Taste their range at their cellar door, enjoy a long lunch at the estate’s restaurant, or wander the gardens with a glass of wine and a slice from the pizza trailer. Private cabanas can be rented for a more premium experience, and there are also two options for on-site accommodation for groups of six or 12.

Terra Sancta

Terra Sancta was the first to plant vines in Bannockburn, and with all four of their estate vineyards located within the subregion, it’s still one of its greatest champions. Taste its range of single-block pinot noir in its charming, schist cellar door.

Te Kano Estate

Set into the slopes above Lake Dunstan, Te Kano’s architectural award-winning cellar door has been designed to emulate the rugged beauty of the surrounding region. Enjoy a tasting of its single-vineyard wines over a custom platter or picnic made from its mini deli either inside or on the lawn.

What type of soil is in Bannockburn? 

Like the wider Central Otago region, Bannockburn experiences a continental climate, however there are a few key differences that make this subregion particularly advantageous for grape growing. Located at the southern terminus of the Cromwell Valley, with the Kawarau River to the north, the Southern Alps to the west, and the Cairnmuir and Carrick ranges to the east, Bannockburn is the warmest and driest of the subregions.

Grapes ripen much earlier here than in the rest of Central Otago – sometimes by up to a month – which equates to flavour and complexity in the wines. This protective geography also means harvests in Bannockburn are relatively consistent and slightly more reliable than in other subregions. Vines are mostly planted on gentle, north-facing slopes, on free-draining, mineral-rich soils that are among the most diverse in the country. The range of soil types include mine tailings, decomposed greywacke, schist, ancient lakebed sediment (alluvium), quartz gravel, silts, sands and loess; much of it is around 250 million years old.

Bannockburn wines 

Vineyard plantings in Bannockburn mirror those in the wider Central Otago region – around 80 per cent is planted to pinot noir, with pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling and a small amount of sauvignon blanc making up the bulk of the remainder.

Bannockburn is planted predominately to pinot noir.

Bannockburn pinot noir

Bannockburn’s slightly warmer climate adds another layer of richness and fruit ripeness to the pinot noir produced here. Classic regional descriptors include dark cherry, licorice and black plum.

Bannockburn riesling

The region’s stony soils and warmer temperatures produce minerally examples of riesling with heightened aromatics, stone fruit and peach characters..

Bannockburn chardonnay

Like riesling, chardonnay from Bannockburn tends to be quite minerally and perfumed, with floral, jasmine, and stone fruit characters that are balanced by taut acidity. 

Bannockburn itinerary

Just 50 minutes’ drive from Queenstown, everything New Zealand’s adventure capital has to offer is at within easy reach. However, if you’d rather stay close, Bannockburn offers plenty of local thrills as well. For adventure with a side of history, the Bannockburn Sluicings Track is a 3.5-kilometre trail that loops around the goldfields and what’s left of the gold-rush era Stewart Town. Another option for gold-rush history is to explore Carricktown, high on the Carrick Range.

The public road isn’t accessible by car, so it requires a 2.5 hour (or 6.5-kilometre walk) to get there, however the views down to Cromwell and the Clutha Valley make the journey worthwhile. Another trail worth tackling, preferably by mountain bike as it’s 25.5 kilometres long (although there are shorter options), the Cairnmuir track follows the range of the same name and runs from Cromwell to Clyde on the south side of the Cromwell Gorge. Plenty of vineyards en route mean you can break to eat and drink if the mood takes you. If you’d rather taste a selection of the region’s wines in one place, the Bannockburn Hotel, just across the bridge from Cromwell, is a must for lunch or dinner.  .