Owned for the past six years by Rick and Dini Siddik, Walnut Cottage was built in 1870 and these days is well known for its gardens.
Skeggs Group-owned Akarua took over the cafe this week. It will reopen in November as a cafe and function and wine-tasting venue under the management of Queenstown’s Artisan Catering.
Akarua general manager Kathryn Pettit says the winery would maintain a cellar door at Bannockburn, near Cromwell but with the surge in tourism, the company wanted a presence in Queenstown — a key part of its five-year plan.
"We felt that we wanted to still be a little bit of a destina-tion but not too far out of town. It had to be unique," she said.
The company was keen to retain its heritage, she said.
"However, we’ll be giving it an Akarua feel, which is probably a little bit more contemporary than what is there at the moment."
It will be renamed Akarua Wines and Kitchen by Artisan, and will open from 9am till 5pm, seven days a week, with both an on- and off-licence.
Day-to-day operations will be in the hands of Artisan Catering owners Debbie and John Pickens.
Touted as the largest family-owned winery in Central Otago, Akarua is best known for its pinot noir, which won gold at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards in the United Kingdom, and sparkling wine.
- Philip Chandler
