If you love wine, mountains, and incredible views, you’ll love Rippon Vineyard. Sitting on a hill overlooking Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps, Rippon feels like it’s straight out of a postcard, fairytale, or both. Honestly, I don’t know what’s better—the wine or the scenery!

One of the best things about this vineyard is its biodynamic approach to wine and wine-tasting experience. It’s free (yes, free) and delicious. The people here are passionate, welcoming, and so friendly it feels like you’re spending the day with your friends. If you don’t buy a bottle after the session, all the owner asks is that you please donate towards the reintroduction of the Kiwi (New Zealand’s rare, endangered and national bird) to the area. How could you say no to that?!

If you’re driving, you can head straight up to the vineyard, but one of my favorite things about Rippon is that you can walk there from the centre of town. The walk takes about 45 minutes and there’s one uphill section near the end but it’s nothing too tough. Plus, walking means you can enjoy a few extra tastings without worrying about driving back!

Unfortunately, there is no alternative menu at Rippon if you’re not a wine drinker, but if you have time, I’d still recommend coming here to soak up the views. However, they sometimes have Chef’s Table pop-ups (the last one was June to September 2024) so I’d keep an eye out in case there’s one on when you’re here!