Chard Farm.

By Claire Sullivan

I’ll admit that one of the main reasons I pay a visit to Chard Farm winery on every visit to Queenstown, is often to scare the living daylights out of travelling companions who maybe a little afraid of precarious cliff edges. Located at the end of what would have to be one of New Zealand’s […]

Chard Farm
205 Chard Road
RD 1, Gibbston
(03) 442 6110
www.chardfarm.co.nz

I’ll admit that one of the main reasons I pay a visit to Chard Farm winery on every visit to Queenstown, is often to scare the living daylights out of travelling companions who maybe a little afraid of precarious cliff edges. Located at the end of what would have to be one of New Zealand’s more dramatic private roads is Chard Farm. The winding gravel road hugs the rocky mountainside to the left, and to the right drops away to the famous Shotover river hundreds of meters below. It’s an utterly quintessential Queenstown view that can quite simply take your breath away – particularly if you are lucky enough to have me as your driver.

Once at Chard Farm you will not be disappointed, for more than 20 years the Hay family has been producing their coveted wines that have developed a cult following the world over. Inspired by Rob Hay’s studies in wine making in Germany in the 80s, the family originally focused on German varieties such as gewürztraminer, but it didn’t take long for them to appreciate that the unique terrain of the farm would provide the perfect environment for the Central Otago super star that is pinot noir.