appellation wine tours - queenstown

Name

appellation wine tours - queenstown

Legal name

Appellation Wine Tours

Website

https://appellationwinetours.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Tourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Culinary & Wine Travel Agencies (THAKAFAH)

Keywords

• Wine tour services
• Wine tasting tours
• Private wine tours
• Wine tourism experiences
• Transport transfer services

Headquarters

HQ city

Queenstown

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wine Tour Tickets: Per-person tour tickets for daily small-group wine tours, private tours, and custom tours. Pricing varies by tour type and duration. All-inclusive pricing covers transport, wine tastings, and food (on applicable tours).
2. Private Tours: Premium private wine tours with dedicated guide and customizable itineraries for groups of any size. Higher price point than group tours.
3. Conference and Incentive Groups: Corporate tour packages for conference delegates and incentive travel groups, including vineyard lunches, helicopter transfers, winemaker hosted tastings, and multi-course wine-paired dining experiences.
4. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers valid for 12 months, redeemable across wide selection of Queenstown and Central Otago wine tours. Purchased as presents for birthdays, celebrations, special occasions, or corporate gifting.
5. Transport and Transfers: Premium private transport and luxury transfer services including Queenstown airport transfers, point-to-point transport, hotel transfers, and dedicated driver hire. Fleet includes sedans, mini-vans, and luxury coaches for groups from couples to 100+ guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Appellation Wine Tours operates guided wine tasting tours, private and custom wine experiences, sightseeing tours, and premium transport/transfer services in Queenstown and the Central Otago wine region. Offerings span small-group daily tours (max 12 adults), combo tours pairing wine tasting with adventure activities, bespoke private tours, corporate conference and incentive programs, and gift vouchers redeemable across the tour portfolio.

Product overview

Appellation Wine Tours operates a multi-product portfolio of wine tourism experiences centered in Central Otago, New Zealand. The offering consists of three tiers: Daily Tours (small-group experiences including Gourmet Food & Wine Tour, Boutique Wine Tour, Classic Wine Tour, Queenstown Highlights Tour, and Twilight Stars & Wine Tour), Combo Tours (combining wine tours with adventure activities such as Zip and Sip, Jet Boat and Wine, Golf and Wine, and Cruise and Wine tours), and Private Tours (personalized experiences with options including helicopter and golf experiences). The company also offers B2B services including Conference and Incentive Group programs and Transport & Transfers. All services are bookable through the Rezdy platform, with tours limited to maximum 12 adults for personalized experiences. The company holds Qualmark Gold certification and has pioneered sustainable tourism with an electric vehicle fleet since 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,500 5-star Tripadvisor reviews with Hall of Fame recognition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Gibbston Valley WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Central Otago's pioneering winery. Provides access to New Zealand's largest underground wine cave for guided tours. Featured on multiple tour itineraries including Gourmet Food & Wine Tour and Classic Wine Tour.
• Ziptrek EcotourscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Zip and Sip combo tours combining 4-line ziplining experience with afternoon wine tasting tour. Guests zipline at Bob's Peak near Skyline Gondola, then join Classic Wine Tour.
• KJetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Jet Boat and Wine combo tours. KJet provides 1-hour jet boat experience on Lake Wakatipu, Shotover and Kawarau rivers with 360-degree spins, followed by Boutique Wine Tour.
• Real NZ (TSS Earnslaw)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Cruise and Wine combo tours featuring 90-minute scenic cruise on 114-year-old TSS Earnslaw steamship, followed by wine tasting tour in Central Otago.
• Helicopter (Various)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with helicopter operators for Heli and Wine tours featuring scenic flights over wine country with alpine landings and vineyard lunches.
• Destination QueenstownmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism partner and member. Official Queenstown website for accommodation, activities, shopping, wine, events. Supports tourism promotion for the region.
• Tourism Industry AotearoamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association representing New Zealand's diverse tourism industry. Supports advocacy and standards.
• Tourism Export Council of New ZealandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade association representing inbound tourism industry interests.
• QualmarkmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial quality rating system for New Zealand tourism. Appellation holds Gold Status certification through annual independent assessments.
• Love QueenstownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit environmental organization raising funds for grassroots environmental action. Annual contributions towards predator trap purchases for predator-free Whakatipu initiative.
• ScenicNZminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransport partner providing South Island coach touring, school charters, private transport for conferences and events, and coaches for private hire.
• Carrick WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured lunch venue on Boutique Wine Tour and Jet Boat and Wine Tour. Restaurant serves hearty fare with locally sourced produce. Certified organic winery.
• The Stoaker RoomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured lunch venue on Gourmet Food and Wine Tour. Unique dining experience with food slow-cooked, smoked, and steamed in retired Pinot Noir wine barrels. Paired wines include Wild Earth selections.
• Various Central Otago Wineries (30+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong relationships with 30+ boutique and premium vineyards across Central Otago sub-regions including Peregrine, Amisfield, Mt Difficulty, Misha's Vineyard, Terra Sancta, Valli, and many more. Enables exclusive access, private tastings, and varied daily itineraries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Altitude Tours: Queenstown-based tour operator offering small-group wine, sightseeing, and adventure combo tours in Central Otago. Directly comparable product portfolio, customer base, and pricing tier, and the closest head-to-head competitor in the Queenstown wine tour category.
• Cellar Tours: Specialist wine tour operator offering curated, luxury small-group and private wine experiences across multiple international regions. Closely comparable business model (premium small-group, expert guides, exclusive winery access) and a relevant model for Appellation's potential international expansion.

Broad incumbents

• RealNZ (Real Journeys): Established NZ tourism operator offering cruises (including the TSS Earnslaw), scenic flights, and Milford Sound experiences. Overlaps with Appellation through combo-tour partnerships and competes for the same Queenstown visitor wallet, though its portfolio extends far beyond wine tourism.
• Tourism Holdings Limited (THL): NZX-listed NZ tourism company operating campervans (Britz, Maui), rentals, and tourism experiences. Relevant as a scaled incumbent participating in the broader Queenstown visitor economy, although it does not specialize in wine tours.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Global luxury tour operator serving high-net-worth travelers with curated, private experiences including wine and culinary journeys. Comparable in premium private-tour positioning and reliance on expert local guides, though operating at a much larger global scale.
• Viator (Tripadvisor): Global online marketplace for tours and activities; lists Queenstown wine tour operators including Appellation. A relevant distribution and competitive channel because it aggregates consumer demand and exposes Appellation to global price comparison.
• GetYourGuide: Global tours and activities marketplace with growing presence in Queenstown and New Zealand wine regions. Comparable as a distribution and discovery channel that competes for the same international tourist booking.
• Klook: Asia-headquartered tours and activities platform with growing New Zealand inventory. Functions as both a potential distribution partner and a competitive marketplace for inbound Asian tourist bookings in Queenstown.

Others

• Ziptrek Ecotours: Queenstown zipline operator and core combo-tour partner for Appellation's Zip and Sip product. Adjacent activity provider rather than a competitor, but competes for the same adventure-seeking tourist time and budget.
• KJet: Queenstown jet boat operator partnered with Appellation for the Jet Boat and Wine combo tour. Functions as a complementary activity provider and reseller rather than a direct wine-tour competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AppellationWineTours
• Instagraminstagram.com/appellationwinetours
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/appellationwinetours

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about appellation wine tours - queenstown