After a leisurely drive 45 mins west of Queenstown, the turn off from the nicely paved Gibbston Hwy on to Chard Farm Rd certainly awakens the senses. Chard Farm Rd slowly weaves and creeps its way 2 Km along a nervously loose-gravel road that barely looks big enough for one small car (let alone you and the 4WD kicking up dust coming the other way) you feel like you’re clinging for dear life on the side of the cliff overlooking a gorge about 40 metres above the fast flowing blue looking snow fed waters of the Kawarau River. Looking over and across the gorge right, Chard Farm has amazing views to AJ Hackett's famous bungee jump bridge. Over and across the gorge to the left looks toward the (just) slightly less precariously placed vineyards of Peregrine Wines and, more safely placed up the hill, Gibbston Valley Wines (who have a magnificent cheesery, by the way – definitely worth stopping for).   Hopefully you’ll have the nerve to continue the rest of the way along this seemingly treacherous road because you’ll be thankful you made the trip to the cellar door of one of the oldest wineries in the central Otago region owned by vigneron Rob Hay (Rob and brother Greg started Chard Farm in 1987 – Greg is owner/vigneron over at Peregrine). You’re likely to be cheerfully greeted by Chard Farm’s knowledgeable Cellar Door Manager, Dave Laurent. Chard Farm’s knowledgeable Cellar Door Manager took our Tasting Panel through their very impressive range of whites and reds, including their second label Rabbit Run, covering price points from about $25 up to around $100 per bottle for the flagship ‘Viper Vineyard’ Pinot Noir – there were many exalted remarks from us all, actually the minimum rating given was 91 Points for the Sauvignon Blanc that isn’t grown on site. Sadly, the Rieslings don’t make it across the Tasman ... yet. All Chard Farm Estate grown wines scored in the range from 93 Points (Finla-Mor Pinot 2008 & Closeburn Chardonnay 2008) up to a massive 97 & 98 Points (Viper Vineyard Pinot 2008, Tiger Vineyard Pinot 2007 respectively).   Chard Farm held the illustrious distinction of being the only winery at which all wines in their range won the favour of our tasting panel – one of our owners commented that she found “every variety they grow on that terrifying plot (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris) shows such fantastic purity of fruit, from off the vine and into the glass! Their entire line up was absolutely brilliant. Sign them up!” So we did. Chard Farm There are no products to display Ok