Wooing Tree is a family-owned single-vineyard wine business in Cromwell, Central Otago, established by Steve and Thea Farquharson. It is unusual among Central Otago producers in sitting within the town itself rather than out in the surrounding valleys.
The Farquharsons bought land in Cromwell in 2002 and engaged viticulturist Robin Dicey to establish the vineyard. They returned to Cromwell at the end of 2004, in time for their first vintage in 2005. Steve Farquharson studied viticulture, winemaking and the wine trade, and completed the WSET Diploma, at Plumpton College in the United Kingdom.
The vines were planted around the Wooing Tree itself — the lone tree that gives the property its name — and the original cellar door operated on the site from 2005 to 2021.
In 2021 the original vineyard site began its next chapter as Wooing Tree Estate, a Cromwell development project, and the wine business expanded onto a new site, Pink Moon Vineyard, a 17-hectare property beneath the Pisa Range.
A new Cellar Door & Kitchen was built to replace the original, opening on 29 October 2024. It was designed from the outset as a versatile, multifunctional building: a daily cellar door and eatery that also works as a dedicated venue for wine events and private functions.
The kitchen serves a seasonal menu of locally inspired dishes, with platters and shared plates available through the day alongside tastings. Pinot Noir and Rosé are among the wines visitors can taste.
The Cellar Door & Kitchen welcomes both corporate and private groups, and is positioned for intimate events in Cromwell — the venue lists awards nights, corporate retreats, celebration lunches and Christmas functions among the occasions it caters for, as well as weddings. Wooing Tree has also run summer events at its cellar door historically, including outdoor garden-party style concerts.
The scale here is intimate rather than large-conference. That makes it a good fit for executive retreats, team offsites, incentive lunches and dinners, client hosting, awards evenings and end-of-year functions. Being in Cromwell rather than out of town is a practical advantage: delegates staying centrally can reach it easily, and it pairs naturally with the Bannockburn cellar doors and other Central Otago venues when building a multi-day programme. Confirm current capacities, exclusive-use options and seasonal availability directly with the venue.
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