Central Otago’s most historic winery opens a cellar door experience in the heart of Gibbston

Monte Christo Winery – the birthplace of Central Otago wine – opened its doors to a new wine-tasting experience in Gibbston at the end of last month.

The winery’s second cellar door is located in a thoughtfully-restored historic building on the Gibbston wine trail and will serve as the gateway to Monte Christo Winery’s flagship estate in Clyde.

Located at 6 Coal Pit Road, the family-run winery’s cellar door offers visitors to the Queenstown-Arrowtown area the opportunity to experience the full range of wines from Monte Christo Winery with local and gourmet foods in a relaxed, yet charming setting.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have opened our doors at this stunning location and showcase our wines to more locals and travellers seeking a refined tasting experience,” says Monte Christo Winery Managing Director Nicholas Paris.

“This new cellar door is an extension of our winery’s premium offerings in Clyde. Guests to our Gibbston location can relax with a glass of wine on the outdoor patio and build their own platter with our selection of local cheeses, artisanal charcuterie, breads, olives and spreads.”

With the help of local architects, construction crews and interior designers, the Paris family transformed the former site of Rockburn wines into a new cellar door, giving guests a taste of the immersive experiences on offer at Monte Christo Winery’s home estate nearby.

“After guests experience the wines of Monte Christo Winery for the first time in Gibbston, we hope they will also visit us at our historic winery and cellar door in Clyde, which is just a 45-minute drive away,” says Nicholas.

Nicholas, who, along with his father Dr Stanley Paris, commenced the restoration on the Coal Pit Road building several months ago, are experienced in heritage renovations. 

In November 2023, they re-opened Monte Christo Winery – the first winery in the South Island (established 1864) – after an extensive renovation in consultation with Heritage NZ.

The stunning winery, with twenty-two hectares of grapes planted across Central Otago, has since become a haven for wine-lovers, holiday-makers, families and school groups alike.

Entrepreneur, adventurer and philanthropist Dr. Stanley Paris, who splits his time between Central Otago and the USA, where he founded a university, is proud of what his family has achieved in transforming the historic site into a venue for the local community to enjoy.

“It’s always been my dream to build a purpose-built educational winery, and seeing it come to life has been incredibly rewarding. We can now guide visitors through the full winemaking process, and local students are visiting to learn about wine production and future career pathways. The feedback from both locals and tourists has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Stanley.

Located just off the Otago Central Rail Trail, Monte Christo Winery’s Clyde estate offers something for everyone – from wine tastings and Fritzy the food truck to an outdoor playground, the immersive Aroma Room, and three luxury guest cottages for overnight stays.

Now, with the addition of its Gibbston Valley cellar door, the Paris family are set to continue fostering exceptional and memorable experiences in the region.

“From our wine tastings, to food offerings, accommodation and educational winery tours, to our world-class Gibbston location, we’re thrilled to share the beauty of Central Otago with everyone.” adds Nicholas.

HOW TO EXPERIENCE MONTE CHRISTO WINES:

• Visit the Monte Christo Winery Cellar Door at 6 Coat Pit Road, Gibbston Valley, Open Daily 10am – 6pm
• For the ultimate Monte Christo Winery experience head to 100 Springvale Road, Clyde.
• Follow @montechristowinery on Instagram and Facebook.

ENDS

For more information, photos or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Linda Shackelford
Expand PR
linda@expandpr.co.nz
027 886 1760