In the 5 years we have been together, Derik and I have never made elaborate plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day. However, this year I wanted to do something special ‘just because,’ and planned a weekend getaway in Queenstown. I booked our stay at Kinross Cottages last minute, and really had no idea what to expect, except that the place was new-ish and in Gibbston Valley (wine country).
The Kinross Cottages Review
The second we pulled into the Kinross drive Derik and I were completely blown away. We had somehow completely missed the part of the website description that stated our cottage would literally be smack dab in the middle of a vineyard, and that paired with the gorgeously designed ‘General Store’ and cottages, we felt like giddy children the day before Christmas.
Honestly, the pictures shown online do not give Kinross Cottages enough justice. It seemed beautiful from what was shown, but it was a million times better in person. I do not have a single negative or nitpicky thing to say about Kinross, and I wish them all the success for years to come! I only wish we had booked more than one night, as the cottages would be a perfect place to tuck away for a week or so.
The Experience
As we drove up to the ‘General Store’ we were greeted by a cheerful man named Jeremaia. He had our cottage ready and waiting for us, and invited us to explore the area and come back to the store for a wine tasting or two whenever we felt like it. The day was absolutely perfect so after parking our car in the designated spot and dropping our things off in the room, we walked around the vineyard for a good hour and a half before heading inside for our first wine tasting of the weekend. I had booked an extensive wine tour for the next day, but looking back on it, I’m really glad we tasted wines at Kinross. They offer a wine selection from some of the local vineyards that are too small to open their doors to the general public. The wines were absolutely phenomenal! Derik and I bought a bottle of Riesling to enjoy later that night. So why isn’t Kinross serving their own wine? We were told the vines have a few more years to age before the grapes will be good enough to harvest. I guess we’ll have to make another trip back in the future!
As the sun was setting for the night, we found the perfect little picnic table overlooking the valley to sit on and enjoy our wine and some cheese. I wish I could properly express with words how absolutely wonderful it was, but you’ll just have to go and experience it for yourself! What a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the one I love; I wouldn’t have traded our little romantic getaway for anything!
The Cottage
If the surroundings weren’t enough to make every single human alive want to book a stay with Kinross, just wait until you see the cottages. Each cottage is actually divided into two separate studio rooms, fully equipped with a kitchenette and a full bathroom, and the interior design boasts a bright, natural, tranquil, and modern feel. I’m pretty sure I could live in a tiny little space like this for the rest of my life and be happy as a clam. The bed was soft, bathroom was clean, and there was enough space in the closet to store all our unsightly junk we brought with us, so I could photograph what a wonderful room we were given!
I also loved how the cottage faced the vineyard and the mountains, so every single second of every day you have a breathtaking view. I’m really not sure how you could top it!
Book this accommodation if
…you need time to relax and unwind.
…you’re okay with being 25+ minutes outside the hustle and bustle of Queenstown.
…staying in a vineyard is on your bucket-list (if it isn’t, put it on there ASAP).
…you like wine (or if you don’t that’s fine too)!
…sitting in front of the T.V. while you’re on holiday is not your idea of fun (although they have a great T.V. setup just in case you need it).
…you need a little fresh air.
Studio Rate: $225 per night.