About Amisfield
Amisfield is a Central Otago producer of pinot noir and aromatic white wines, with its cellar door, bistro and restaurant on Lake Hayes Road between Queenstown and Arrowtown. John Darby, who came from a landscape architecture background, founded it in 1988, when the region's wine industry was young. The grapes come from a 93-hectare single-vineyard estate beneath Mount Pisa that is fully certified organic.
The cellar door is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11:30am to 5pm, and groups under seven do not need to book. There are three tastings: Explorer, about 30 minutes and five current releases for $40 per person; Connoisseur, 45–60 minutes and six wines including premium releases and back vintages for $65; and Curator, 60–75 minutes with library wines and two special pours for $125, which must be booked. The first two fees are waived with a qualifying purchase.
For lunch, the Cellar Door & Bistro serves an à la carte menu from 11:30am to 3:30pm, Wednesday to Sunday, and reservations are recommended. Children are welcome at the bistro; include them in your booking and mention a highchair or pram, since space is limited. In the evening the Amisfield Restaurant serves a single tasting menu from 6:30pm ($490 per person, wine pairings extra), and bookings there are essential.
Ben Lomond Lavender is about 20 minutes away in the Wakatipu Basin, so a summer lavender walk and a long lunch at Amisfield fit into one day.
What to do
- Take the 30-minute Explorer tasting of five current releases
- Book the Curator tasting for library wines and special pours
- Have an à la carte lunch at the Cellar Door & Bistro
- Reserve the evening tasting menu at Amisfield Restaurant
- Taste organic pinot noir from the Mount Pisa estate
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round, Wednesday to Sunday
- Hours
- 2026: cellar door Wed–Sun 11:30am–5pm; bistro lunch Wed–Sun 11:30am–3:30pm; restaurant Wed–Sun from 6:30pm
- Admission
- Tastings $40, $65 or $125 per person (2026)
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Recommended
Tips for your visit
- It is closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Groups of seven or more should email the cellar door ahead.
- Tell the bistro in advance if you need a highchair or pram space.
- All bookings are made online; plan a designated driver if tasting.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Ben Lomond Lavender · about 20 minutes away
Ben Lomond Lavender is about 20 minutes away in the Wakatipu Basin, so pair a booked lavender walk with lunch and a tasting here.
Getting there
Questions
Do I need to book a tasting at Amisfield?
Not for groups under seven, except the Curator tasting, which must be booked.
Are children welcome at Amisfield?
Yes, at the Cellar Door & Bistro; include them in your booking and mention highchair or pram needs.
What days is Amisfield open?
Wednesday to Sunday.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Queenstown & Arrowtown, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
