Wine Tasting and Driving a Campervan: How to Stay Safe

Quick summary: New Zealand takes drink-driving seriously, and a campervan or motorhome is not a vehicle to drive after tasting wine. It’s larger and heavier than a car, it handles differently on winding roads, and you’re probably still getting used to it. The good news is that there are easy ways to enjoy the cellar doors without driving at all: wine tours with pickup, cycle trails, walking from a nearby holiday park, or a designated driver who doesn’t drink.

At a glance
The safest rule	Don’t drive at all after tasting
New Zealand’s approach	Strict drink-driving laws, with tighter limits for younger drivers
Why campervans need extra care	Size, weight, high centre of gravity and unfamiliar handling
Best alternatives	Wine tours, bikes, walking, a non-drinking designated driver
Spitting and tipping	Normal and accepted at cellar doors
After tasting	Stay put for the night, and drive on the next morning

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Why shouldn’t you drive a campervan after wine tasting?

Because even small amounts of alcohol slow reaction times and affect judgement, and a campervan demands more of the driver than a car. It takes longer to stop, it sways in crosswinds and on corners, and New Zealand’s roads include narrow bridges, gravel shoulders and steep, winding sections, often in wine country. Many visitors are also driving on the left for the first time. Tastings add up quickly across several cellar doors, and it’s hard to judge how much you’ve had.

What are New Zealand’s drink-driving rules?

New Zealand has strict drink-driving laws with legal alcohol limits, lower limits for younger drivers, and roadside testing is common. The details can change, so check the current rules on the official New Zealand transport agency website. The simplest approach on a campervan trip is to treat tasting days as no-driving days.

How can you taste wine safely on a campervan trip?

• Take a wine tour. The guide drives and you can relax. See our guide to parking up and taking a tour.
• Cycle. Ride between cellar doors on flat trails and quiet roads. See cycling wine trails, and remember that you should still be in a fit state to ride safely.
• Walk. Stay at a holiday park within walking distance of the wineries. See campsites near vineyards.
• Have a designated driver who doesn’t drink at all, and who will drive only to and from the holiday park.
• Spit and tip. At cellar doors, it’s normal to spit tastings into the bucket and pour away what you don’t want to finish.

Is it acceptable to taste at cellar doors without drinking?

Absolutely. Cellar-door staff are used to designated drivers, and many offer non-alcoholic drinks, grape juice or tastings of local olive oil and produce. Spitting is standard practice in the wine world, and nobody will think twice about it.

How should you plan tasting days in an RV?

• Arrive the day before and park up at a holiday park.
• Don’t plan to move on on the evening of a tasting day.
• Allow time the next morning before driving on, after a big day of tasting.
• Eat well and drink plenty of water during the day.
• Buy wine to enjoy later, at your campsite, rather than drinking more during the day.

What else should you think about?

Your rental agreement and insurance won’t cover driving under the influence of alcohol, and an accident could leave you liable for the full cost of damage. For general guidance, see our sister site’s guide to insurance and excess.

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Frequently Asked Questions