Nanny Goat Vineyard

There’s a sure-footed wild creature that has long made the rugged hill country of Central Otago home, and Nanny Goat Vineyard, named in its honour, seems to have followed suit. The name itself came from a 2004 hike to a Queenstown restaurant that turned into a scramble, with the group likened to a herd of nanny goats. Fortunately, the gentle climb to its Queensberry cellar door, just 15 minutes from Wānaka, doesn’t require hooves.

From the outside, it’s very much barn chic: a gabled shed in black corrugated iron, with huge rustic timber sliding doors to boot. Surrounding pines and tussock soften the edges. Inside, timber trusses span a white ceiling hung with candle lanterns, and leather armchairs draped in herringbone throws gather around a wood burner and chunky timber mantel. On sunny days, the pergola-covered deck looks straight out over the vines to the hills.

Guided tastings walk you through the vineyards and the winemaking. The first Pinot Noir was released in 2005, and chief winemaker Alan Peters-Oswald, who grew up in the region, now nurtures wines from vineyards in Queensberry and Bendigo with a light touch. Nanny Goat takes a fruit-forward approach, letting the wines speak for themselves. The Pinot Noir is dark in the glass, rich with ripe cherry and smoky spice. Look out for Super Nanny, a Pinot made from the standout parcels of each season, drawn from Nanny Goat and select partner vineyards. The aptly named grazing menu offers the likes of house-baked walnut sourdough with pear and fig preserve, and baked brie with local honey.

Queensberry is a place of ancient terraces, big skies and stark seasonal contrasts, all of which shape both the wine and the welcome. Whether you’re a seasoned Pinot fan or a first-timer, there’s a seat by the fire or a spot in the sun waiting, unless, of course, you’ve arrived on four legs.