Wild Earth in Central Otago

On our last full day in New Zealand, we signed up for a wine tour of four major wineries outside of Queenstown. It was a full day tour, and even though all of the wineries were delightful, it was our visit to Wild Earth that pulled me in and stole my heart.

Wild Earth was our second stop, placed at lunchtime so we could enjoy a full meal to complement our wines. Wild Earth is placed far off the road from where you park, so that you have to cross a ravine on a narrow foot bridge to get to the rugged building where the wine and food are served. The landscape surrounding Wild Earth shows part of its history as being part of the mining era that was prominent in the Otago region.

While we waited to be seated, we explored the landscape. To this day, the photograph of the purple wildflowers is still my favorite. My friends studied the barrels they use to smoke their meats—old casks repurposed as part of their kitchen.

The food was, hands down, my favorite over the course of the trip to New Zealand. It started with oils and bread, surrounded by meats and cheeses (I honestly can’t get enough of meat and cheese plates!). For the main course, we shared a platter of four smaller dishes: ribs on root vegetables, bread topped with meat and a creamy spread, a simple salad of fresh vegetables, and (my favorite!) goat shoulder on a couscous mixture. After that meal, I asked Katie to find the recipe for the goat so she could make it for me—and she did!

Wine was served in little carafes off to the side, allowing us to sample as we ate. The service was excellent, and I enjoyed the simple atmosphere of Wild Earth. It will be a place I will visit again when I head back to the South Island!

Getting Ready to Cross the Foot Bridge to Wild Earth

A Subtle Nod to the Mining History of the Area

Casks Repurposed to Smoke the Meats

One of the Many Wines We Tasted

A Close-Up Look at Part of Our Meal

The Dinner and Wine We Shared