6 of the best
Local Winery Tours
Stay, Tour, Taste
Chapman House sits minutes from the best wineries in Kumeū and West Auckland. Start your day on scenic roads through native bush, taste standout local wines at welcoming cellar doors, and enjoy a proper winery lunch before rolling into more tastings. Below are our top six wineries and curated day-tour routes, thoughtfully sequenced to keep drive times short, flavours high, and the reset at Chapman House worth every sip.
Babich Wines – 8-12 minutes drive
A heritage producer crafting dependable Kiwi classics across reds, whites and sparkling. The Henderson cellar door offers tastings and occasional events. A great entry point into West Auckland wines. No full restaurant on-site.
Coopers Creek – 18-22 minutes drive
This boutique-minded vineyard pushes bold aromatics and small-batch styles. The Huapai cellar door runs tastings and relaxed platters but has no formal café/restaurant. Friendly, grounded, and experimental.
Kumeu River Wines – 13-17 minutes drive
Chardonnay royalty with global chops, delivering laser-focused terroir and precision. Cellar door for tastings, no restaurant attached. A must-visit for serious wine buffs wanting the benchmark.
Soljans Estate – 12-16 minutes drive
A five-generation family estate. Their cellar door and bistro serve tastings, full meals, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Great pours, generous hosts, strong lunch stop.
The Hunting Lodge – 20-25 minutes drive
Rustic-refined cellar-door experience with a full restaurant, lawn bar and tastings. Seasonal menus, polished without the fuss. One of the best West Auckland anchors for tasting + lunch.
Westbrook Winery – 21-25 minutes drive
Lush, park-style vineyard known for unpretentious hospitality. Cellar-door tastings and casual food – think pizza/platters. Relaxed, leafy and local-favourite vibes.
Try these Wine Tour Itineraries
Range To River - 4 hours
Order: Babich → The Hunting Lodge (Lunch + Tastings)→ Kumeū River→ Chapman House
A smart, scenic crawl that kicks off with heritage reds at Babich, resets in the middle with a full winery lunch at The Hunting Lodge, then rolls through Kumeū River’s benchmark Chardonnay. Short drives, standout pours, tasty kai, and a relaxed finish back at your base.
Lunch note:
Take a full hour at The Hunting Lodge — mains, a tasting flight, and a breather before the final stop.
Estimated time to complete: ~3.5 hours (3 tastings + 1 hour lunch + modest travel between stops)
Taste responsibly – with a sober driver
The Aromatic loop - 4.5 hours
Order: Soljan → Coopers Creek → The Hunting Lodge (Lunch + Tastings) → Westbrook→ Chapman House
A tidy flavour loop through family winemaking legacy and expressive aromatics, anchored by an unpretentious winery-restaurant lunch in the heart of the region. Short drives, four distinct tastings, and a relaxed lunch reset make this perfect for a half-day or lazy-day crawl without rush.
Lunch note:
Take a full hour at The Hunting Lodge — mains, a tasting flight, and a breather before the final stop.
Estimated time to complete: ~4.5 hours (4 tastings + 1 hour lunch + travel time)
Taste responsibly – with a sober driver
Vines & Views - Westbrook Edition - 4.5 hours
Order: Kumeū River → Coopers Creek → Westbrook (Lunch: Platters & Pizzas + Tastings) → Soljan→ Chapman House
A compact tour built on Chardonnay finesse and aromatic hits, anchored by a chilled, food-first middle stop that serves wood-fired pizza and generous platters among the vines. Expect classic depth up front, a social lunch reset, then family warmth and views to close.
Lunch note:
Lunch in the middle at Westbrook with platters and pizzas. Book ahead, pre-order if possible, enjoy a tasting, and take your full hour.
Estimated time to complete: ~4.5 hours (4 tastings + 1 hour lunch + modest travel between stops)
Taste responsibly – with a sober driver
The Grand Tour - 6 hours
Order: Babich → Coopers Creek → Soljan Estate Winery (Lunch + Tastings) → Kumeū River → Westbrook → The Hunting Lodge→ Chapman House
Run the full west-Auckland spectrum in one hit — heritage reds, bold aromatics, benchmark Chardonnay, and restaurant hospitality in the heart of wine country. A proper lunch reset at Soljan Estate Winery fuels the middle of the tour, so you taste fresh for the final doors. Five stops, four stellar regions in one small radius, and an hour to eat, sip, and breathe mid-route.
Lunch note:
Soljan’s is your mid-tour reset — sit down, eat well, run a tasting flight, and take the full hour. It sets you up for a stronger finish.
Estimated time to complete: ~6 hours (6 tastings + 1 hour lunch + modest travel between stops)
Taste responsibly – with a sober driver
Professional tours +
For detailed information about West Auckland wineries, visit Wineries Out West. They have listings for professional wine tours and more.
FAQs
What makes Chapman House a good base for Kumeū wine tours?
Chapman House sits just minutes from some of the best wineries in Kumeū and West Auckland, with scenic back-road drives between cellar doors and home. You can start and finish your day at your Chapman House base, then relax on the deck when you’re done tasting.
Which wineries can we visit from Chapman House, and how far away are they?
From Chapman House you’re typically 8–25 minutes’ drive from Babich Wines, Coopers Creek, Kumeū River Wines, Soljans Estate, The Hunting Lodge and Westbrook Winery, so you can plan short hops rather than long slogs. See the winery list and suggested itineraries further up this page for drive times and routes.
Do you run the wine tours yourselves or are they self-guided?
Chapman House provides suggested routes like Range To River, The Aromatic Loop, Vines & Views and The Grand Tour as self-guided itineraries, so you can explore at your own pace. You can either follow these with your own sober driver, or use professional tour operators listed on the Wineries Out West website.
How long do the suggested wine tour itineraries take?
Most Chapman House routes are designed as half-day experiences, from around 3.5–4.5 hours including lunch and tastings, while The Grand Tour runs to about 6 hours with six stops and a full winery lunch in the middle. Each itinerary on this page shows an estimated time so you can match it to your plans.
Do we need a sober driver for these wine tours?
Yes. All of the suggested routes involve driving between cellar doors, and Chapman House strongly recommends having a dedicated sober driver for your group. Each itinerary includes a reminder to “Taste responsibly – with a sober driver”. If you’d rather everyone tasted freely, consider booking a professional tour via Wineries Out West.
Can we combine a Kumeu wine tour with a wedding at a local venue?
Absolutely. Many guests use Chapman House as their base for both Kumeū wine tours and local weddings at venues such as Tui Hills, Abel Estate or Markovina. You can learn more about staying here for weddings on the Weddings page.
Can professional wine tour operators pick us up from Chapman House?
Chapman House doesn’t run tours itself, but the page links to Wineries Out West, which lists professional West Auckland wine tour operators. Many offer pick-ups from West Auckland accommodation – just mention you’re staying at 1010 Scenic Drive North at Chapman House when you book and confirm their pick-up options directly.
How do we book Chapman House for a wine tour weekend, and is there a direct booking discount?
To stay at Chapman House for your wine tour, head to the Book Now page to check dates and secure your stay. When you book directly through the Chapman House site, your nightly rate is 10% less than Airbnb, Bookabach and similar platforms.
The Styled West
Book Direct - 10% less than airbnb
As a popular West Auckland destination, days fill up fast, especially on weekends. Book now and you won't miss out. Plus by booking on this website your room rate will be 10% less than on Airbnb, Bookabach and similar sites.