In a world-first move Queenstown’s Hilton Hotel has opened a cellar door representing prominent Central Otago vineyard, Three Miners of Alexandra.

Owner Kirstin Wright says it is their first off-site cellar door and visitors to the Hilton in Kawarau Village can experience their wines accompanied by food prepared by hotel chefs.

She says the Queenstown cellar door is an exciting concept for both Three Miners and the Hilton.

“It’s the first time a Hilton anywhere in the world has put a cellar door in one of their hotels. For us, it is a way to present our wines to a wider audience.”

The cellar door operates in the reception building and wine tasters can sit at the bar or relax at a table on the deck overlooking Lake Wakatipu.

Kirstin says wine tasting is by the glass and a range of matching food is available. Wine can also be purchased and sent around the world.

“We also have the ‘Postcard of New Zealand’ experience, in which we have hand-picked boutique wines from other regions throughout the country, showcasing all the different varieties that grow in New Zealand.

Three Miners vineyard has a rich history and takes its name from three prospectors who came to the area during the 1860s goldrush.

“Thomas Oliver, Joseph Knowles and James Simmonds came here and formed the Earnscleugh Grand Junction Mining Company,” says Kirstin. “Their mining claim was on the edge of the vineyard near the Clutha River. After mining for a few years they decided to invest in water, so they cut water races through what is today our property from the Fraser River, channelling water through to other miners’claims.”

The grapevines at the Three Miners vineyard were planted in 2000 and Kirstin and her husband Paul took over the business in 2014.

The vineyard is recognised nationally for its excellent trophy winning white and rosé  wines as well as top quality Pinot Noir and was  recently awarded the  trophy for New Zealand’s top rosé  at the 2019 New Zealand International Wine Show.