Media Centre

Fact File – Queenstown Wine Trail

• Lance Benseman and Heather McDonald have owned Queenstown’s original wine tour since 1993.

• Lance came to Queenstown in 1978 and has worked as a raft guide, ski patrol, bar manager and front line booking agent before buying the Queenstown Wine Trail.

• Heather came to Queenstown in 1985 after travelling the world for three years. She also worked on the ski fields and was a driver guide into Skippers Canyon. She then recommenced her nursing career at the Lakes District Hospital before buying the Queenstown Wine Trail with Lance.

• The Queenstown Wine Trail operates daily throughout the year, with two tours daily during the summer season.

• The key markets participating in the Queenstown Wine Trail are New Zealand, Australia, USA and UK/Europe.

• The Queenstown Wine Trail – Original is a full afternoon tour with a 5 hour duration. The tour visits four different wineries in the Queenstown area. The tour includes tastings at the four wineries visited, an underground wine cave tour, optional lunch and sight-seeing.

• The Queenstown Wine Trail – Summer Sampler is a half afternoon trip with a 3 ½ hour duration. The trip includes tastings at two wineries, a wine cave tour, a cheese factory tour and tasting and lunch included at Gibbston Valley Winery.

Fact File – The Wine Industry in Central Otago

• The Central Otago wine area is the southern most grape-growing region in the world at latitude of 45 degrees south.

• The first commercial release of wine was a Pinot Noir released in 1987 by the Gibbston Valley winery.

• Currently 700 ha are planted in grapes in the Central Otago region.

• Pinot Noir comprises approximately 70% of the total grapes planted. Other varieties include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

Photo Gallery

Please click here to be taken through to page where you can download some photos or copies of our logo.

Link to Destination Queenstown trade and media section.

Contacts

For all media enquiries please contact:

Heather McDonald
Director
Phone: 3 441 3990
Mobile: 027 222 1721