The Brae - Tastings & Taps

In the land of lochs and glens, a brae is a hillside, and despite being a world away, The Brae - Tastings & Taps, on Cromwell’s McNab Road, earns its name.

It’s also a nod to the Scottish settlers who helped shape Central Otago, and to the heritage of Brigitte and Paul Tait, the Cromwell locals who took over the cellar door in 2022. With the lakeside town below, the Pisa Range on one side, the Dunstan Mountains across the water on the other and the vineyard at your feet, there are far worse spots to enjoy a bite to eat and a glass of something local.

Follow the signs up from Webb’s Orchard to a rustic timber cottage strung with festoon lights. Out on the schist patio, wooden armchairs come piled with kilim cushions and plaid throws, while a pergola has heaters and screens to keep things snug. Inside, hammered brass pendants glow beneath a white timber ceiling, tan leather stools pull up to high tables and an old wine barrel stands sentry by the bar.

Tasting flights are their speciality, championing Central Otago labels that may not have a cellar door of their own. Expect the likes of Valli, Thyme Hill and Mount Michael, which has its roots on this very hillside. On tap, you’ll find local brewers such as Altitude, Station and Rhyme x Reason, with non-alcoholic options too. Graze on charcuterie boards or their world-famous-in-Cromwell baked camembert. There’s a kids’ platter for the smallest guests, who also have a sandpit to dig in. Dogs on leads are welcome, and they might even conduct a tasting of their own at the water bowls.

You can arrive up the hill on foot, by bike or even on horseback. However you get to The Brae, there’s a beanbag on the lawn, a view across the vines and something cold with your name on it.