Perched at the top of the Skyline Gondola with panoramic views over Lake Rotorua, this tasting room brings New Zealand winemaking to a town without its own vineyards. Grapes are sourced from renowned growing regions across the country, including Pinot Noir from Central Otago, and crafted into wines back at the base of the gondola. Visitors can work through tasting flights of five wines, with a lineup that covers French-oak-aged Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, alongside fresh, unwooded Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and summer Rosé. Tastings can also be hosted on-site for private events or held off-site, and bottles are available to take home by the mixed half-dozen or case of twelve, with free shipping on full cases.
Guests consistently praise the setting and Lake Rotorua backdrop, highlighting tastings of all five pours and the welcoming, knowledgeable guidance from the tasting room manager. While Rotorua is not traditional wine country, establishing the tasting room atop the gondola in Fairy Springs saves travellers the drive out to distant grape-growing valleys without compromising on regional varietals. You will find it reached via the gondola at 176 Fairy Springs Road, Fairy Springs. Our pick in Rotorua for pairing broad lake views with regional wine tasting.