At the wheel is Cromwell Classic Car Wine Tours owner and tour guide Bob Hewitt who takes guests on a leisurely excursion through the Cromwell and Alexandra Basins where over 70% of Central Otago’s vineyards produce world-leading Pinot Noir and other wines.

Inclusive in the Cromwell Classic Car Wine Tours $NZ325 per person package is Mercedes pick up and return to wherever the two to four person group is staying or living in the Wakatipu Basin (Queenstown, Shotover Country, Lake Hayes, Arrowtown), Wanaka (Albert Town, Lake Hawea), Cromwell and Alexandra (Clyde).

Each once-a-day tour features tastings at four wineries and lunch platter. To secure the Qualmark Accredited tour that’s unique amongst Central Otago wine tasting tours simply click ‘Book Now’ on their website. Please select a date 24 hours in advance.

The Cromwell Basin is a tourist destination in itself with a remarkable number of attractions that include Highlands Motorsport Park, The Stoaker Room for wine barrel cooked delights, the start/finish of the Lake Dunstan Trail, Cromwell Heritage Precinct where you’ll find Pinot Junction and Penny Black (for Central Otago’s most amazing cocktails) and for pie lovers, Sanga’s Gourmet Pies is not to be missed. And that’s just scratching the surface.

Separated from the Cromwell Basin by a steep gorge cut by the mighty Clutha/Mata-Au River, New Zealand’s second longest river, the Alexandra Basin is where in the 1860s Central Otago’s first vineyard was planted by French goldminer Jean Feraud. To this day, his Monte Christo Vineyard is producing high quality wines well worth tasting. While in the Alexandra Basin there’s no chance of losing track of time. Just look up at the giant clock on the hill.