New Zealand winemaker Invivo to offer 'winery airline' tours

Auckland-based winery Invivo would be operating a 1,000-kilometer flight from Auckland to Queenstown, New Zealand in what it's calling "the world's first winery airline."

The flight is scheduled for early 2022 with 34 guests onboard a chartered Saab plane.

The travelers will be booked for one night at the Hilton Queenstown hotel and will get to visit some of the Central Otago vineyards that grow grapes for Invivo's Pinot Noirs.

According to Invivo, priority for seats will be given to Auckland hospitality and tourism staff affected by the lockdown, those who haven't seen their South Island family or friends in 2021 due to the borders, and Invivo shareholders.

Among Invivo's high-profile partners are actor Sarah Jessica Parker and British talk show host Graham Norton.

Invivo co-founder Tim Lightbourne said that running a flight to the South Island is a way to show that the country is open again for domestic tourism and support those who have had a particularly tough time. He added that other New Zealand destinations may be offered.

Last month, Invivo became the first Kiwi winery to launch its own NFTs, with the first batch of ten tokens based around the He-Devil wine they created with Norton.

Those who bought the NFTs became eligible to get an annual "first release' wine for the next five years and a framed print of their digital artwork.