Review The Winery Restaurant At Mt Difficulty - Bannockburn

Singaporean here, in response to an earlier review by a fellow Singaporean. We ate at the restaurant and did not visit the cellar door. My family had a very delightful experience here and the staff was super friendly to us the entire time! The photos posted by other reviewers do not do the restaurant any justice. The restaurant is situated at the top of a mountain, it is very nice and windy on a sunny day and has a great view of the surrounding area. The food is on point, you have to try Panna Cotta. If you’re a fan of sweet wines, the sweet wine sampling plate here for $20 was amazing. Super underrated place. Call and reserve a seat at the restaurant beforehand if you’re going at peak hours!

We enjoyed delicious food and great wines while enjoying stunning views at the winery restaurant on the hill. 　Mt Difficulty's wines are highly praised in Japan, and it was great to be able to have them at the winery. We had Riesling, Pinot-gris, and Pinot-noir. Of course, all of them were unique and delicious.

Was able to get an early lunch booking when I rang ahead on the day. All staff were extremely professional, friendly and knowledgeable. The platter we got for the 2 of us was beyond our expectation, we had to leave a few bites behind we were full! Everything on it was delicious. The pilot noir taster was great and very helpful with all the notes. I bought one of the wines I'd tasted and will save it for a special occasion! I then did some additional wine tasting with Markis and he was very personable and helpful. A great stop on our road trip.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our recent visit to Mt. Difficulty Winery was nothing short of a remarkable experience. We had recently met Marcus and it was a great recommendation. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality,, the staff played an instrumental role in making our visit extraordinary. The winery's setting is breathtaking, with expansive, picturesque views that set the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable day. We couldn't help but admire the beauty of Central Otago as we savored our meal. Speaking of the meal, it was a culinary delight. The star of the show was undoubtedly the amazing eye fillet. Cooked to perfection, it was tender, succulent, and bursting with flavor. Paired with a glass of their finest wine, it was a match made in culinary heaven. We also indulged in a plate of delicious fresh olives, which were a delightful prelude to the main course. The olives were perfectly seasoned and served as a fantastic appetizer while we enjoyed the stunning surroundings. One more highlight of our meal was the gnocchi. It was a bowl of pure comfort food, with each bite being a burst of flavor and texture. It was evident that the chefs at Mt. Difficulty put a lot of care and expertise into their dishes. What truly sets this winery apart, though, is the combination of exceptional food and wine with those awe-inspiring views. It's a place where you can truly relax and savor not just the flavors of the cuisine but also the beauty of the land. In conclusion, our visit to Mt. Difficulty Winery was an experience we'll cherish forever. Marcus's recommendations, the amazing eye fillet, delicious fresh olives, and delightful gnocchi, all enjoyed against the backdrop of those expansive, beautiful views, created a day that was nothing short of perfection. If you're in Central Otago, this winery is an absolute must-visit. We're already planning our return!

We had a most enjoyable lunch lamb roast potatoes mint sauce gravy yummy.Our wine 2015 Mount Difficulty Bendigo Pinot Noir beautiful wine to drink.We bought 2x bottles plus 4x 2017 Mt Difficulty Pinot Noir.Excellent service clean bathrooms good off street parking.We will be back.

We LOVED the experience ! The winery tasting was lovely. COLLIN was AMAZING, really informative and smiling all the time. I can tell she loves what she does. The food was excellent. I am from Spain and when I was eating the muscles, I had a flaixback of my old times in France with my family eating muscles. Thank you over all for such a lovely experience. I hope that I can come soon. Thanks Miriam and Josie.

We did the tasting and the lunch today and we loved it. The view is great and contributes to the happy feeling. Staff is super friendly and the wines are interesting. We bought two bottles (we were on the bike and could not carry more)

We headed to mt difficulty en route to queenstown from wanaka. We opted for one of the wine tasting experiences and lunch. All of the food was excellent - delicious and presented beautifully- we opted for the Camembert starter on special, followed by pasta, salmon and brownie. All of which tasted wonderful. The wine was also delicious. It might have been nicer to have them served in wine glasses rather tumblers- but that is just my personal preference. However, we found the servers to be a little cold and unwelcoming. Offering some wine suggestions or just having a chat would have made them more approachable/ friendly.

Absolutely gorgeous place for lunch in summer. Beautiful views, good food (we especially enjoyed the burrata) and, of course, good Pinot. I did a regular paid tasting plus a taste of the Long Gully pinot noir, and walked away with a bottle of the 2021. They even had straw hats and sun screen for guests in the restaurant. We had a great time, except for the frosty and unfriendly service from one of the waiters (tattooed guy, wore sunglasses, earrings, possibly the maître d; not to be confused with another waiter with ear piercings who looked a bit like Marc Jacobs). He had the dubious honour of being the worst service staff we encountered on our 2-week visit to South Island. Otherwise, Mt Difficulty was a great stop.

Lovely impromptu stop on the way to Queenstown, the women at the front of the restaurant were so friendly and tailored a tasting for us as soon as we mentioned a preference for sweeter wines. Served us a few more drinks and a cheeseboard even though it was only 30 minutes till closing time. View is amazing. Highly recommend stopping in!

A wonderful winery with a great selection and lovely staff. We were en route from Lake Tekapo and running a tad late. They let us move back our reservation, encouraged us to relax and enjoy our wines upon arrival, and stayed open an extra thirty minutes for us to finish. We were so thankful and we will never forget the lovely service. A must visit in Otago NZ.

Our group of 9 (from all over NZ) had booked at this restaurant for lunch. As we drove in, the views were magnificent, especially at the car park. We were duly shown to our table and our drinks and food order was taken. Our group had ordered the lamb, fish of the day, lunguini, butchers cut and the Platter, essentially all the mains on the menu. The food came promptly and was delicious. When 1 of our group member had a slight challenge with his meal, Claire was so wonderfully patient and amazing in giving us a solution. With such stunning views ahead, gorgeous food, amazing service (Claire and Maria) and a picturesque "Grand Canyon" double as a back drop, this place deserves a 6 star rating.

How is this possible? With everyone short of staff all over NZ, these ladies are nailing it with a sumptuous platter and well designed tastings, plus the fabulous wines and stunning view. Well done!

No doubt some of the best Pinot Noir in New Zealand. Outstanding customer service from the moment we walked through the door right until we left. Staff went the extra mile, taking pictures in front of the lovely scenery.

Top spot for lunch with spectacular views. Good sharing plate options such as cheeses and antipasto. Once you have ordered food you do a free wine tasting in the cellar to find what you will have for lunch. Service was attentive

Excellent wines particularly liked the Pinot Noir. Lunch was delicious although charcutterie and cheese boards could have been a bit more generous. Best dessert ever...pina colada sorbet, dark choc shards with coconut merangue and freeze dried raspberries and pineapple.....yum!