Blenheim

Visit Blenheim a wine lover’s dream destination, filled with unforgettable landscapes in the heart of the country. The town is the gateway to Marlborough, the largest and most prestigious wine region renowned for its world-class Sauvignon Blanc. The Marlborough region of New Zealand is nestled at the northeastern tip of the South Island, the most important wine region in the country. A dry, sunshine-filled region home to over 500 growers, the region produces over 75% of all of the country’s wine with sprawling verdant vineyards covering over 64,000 acres stretching along the sparkling coastline. The world-renowned award-winning wines of the region are known for their pure intensity and cannot compare to any other wine in the world. Visit over 30 wineries that are easily accessible from the charming town of Blenheim, a fantastic base when exploring the extensive region filled with the glorious kiwi countryside, cellar doors, premium wines, and delicious cuisine at over 140 wineries.

Sauvignon Blanc vines are planted throughout the Marlborough, the signature grape of the country, and continue to win awards to this day. Brancott Estate Heritage Center is a state-of-the-art wine tasting room perched on a hillside boasting majestic views across the sprawling vineyards. Hear the story and history of the region’s wine through an excellent audio-visual experience, telling the tale of the brand the pioneering nature of the founders and winemakers.

The stunning Marlborough wine region was once a stopover for explorers like Captain Cook and Dumont d’Urville and now attracts wine enthusiasts from around the world. The moderate temperatures, wide diurnal swings, and lots of sunshine make Blenheim and its surroundings a thriving spot for quality wine growing. Pungent, zesty wines that are made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety are the most famous here, as well as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and aromatic Pinot Gris, Riesling’s and Gewurztraminer.

Hawke's Bay

Hawke’s Bay is one of the most productive wine-growing regions in the country, blessed with long sunshine filled days and fertile plains, it is the second-largest wine-producing region in New Zealand. Taking a trip to the beautiful Hawke’s Bay would not be complete without visiting the many wineries, cellar doors, and tasting the lush wines. This stunning location is filled with a plethora of gourmet food and drinks served at many restaurants, eateries, and food trucks, and an abundance of full-bodied chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and aromatic pinot Gris are in abundance at the spectacular cellar doors.

The Hawke’s Bay annual Food and Wine Classic event takes place during the months of June and November, showcasing the best of the Bay’s food, wine, beer, and cider. There are a plethora of local restaurants dishing up delicious gourmet cuisine, along with food trucks, with cideries and wineries to quench your thirst. The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail takes visitors to over 100 cellar doors and wineries through the four New Zealand regions including Hawke’s Bay.

There are cycling paths in Hawke’s Bay that link together and form over 124 miles in the region with fabulous wine and food opportunities along the way and superb views of the Bay. The region is large and diverse and best known for producing a wide variety of very high-quality wines including Red Blends like Syrah, Chardonnays, Cabernets, and Merlots. The first vines were planted in Hawke’s Bay in 1851 by French Missionaries who established the Mission Estate. Some of the best and most well-established wineries in the region include Te Mata Estate, Vidal Estate, McDonald's Winery, and Glenvale Winery. Hawke’s Bay is confirmed as a pioneering, innovative wine region, and the pioneers continue to provide the region with inspiration for the current generation of Hawke’s Bay winemakers.

Wanaka

Wanaka is the southernmost sub-region of the Central Otago wine region in New Zealand’s South Island. The region can be divided into several sub-regions each one featuring its own climate and characteristics. A beautiful resort town 30 miles northeast of Queenstown, Wanaka is best known as an adventure destination and its Pinot Noir wines. The region is home to some of the most spectacular vineyards in the country, found along the southwest shores of the lake at the base of Mount Roy.

The stunning region has a long reputation as a producer of excellent wines, and now includes several craft breweries and an artisan spirit distillery. The climate in Wanaka is ideal for growing grapes and is home to one of the oldest and highly regarded vineyards in the Central Otago region. There are many guided tours available here year-round with full-day tours offered that include tastings of a wide range of celebrated Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Gewurztraminer.

Visit the incredible Cardrona Distillery and taste their gin named “The Source” which took home a gold medal at the New York Wine and Spirits Awards in 2016. Due to its location on the edge of a lake, Wanaka features a cooler, wetter climate than the rest of the region, the lakeside position provides a temperature moderating effect that helps to reduce the risk of frost in the surrounding vineyards.

Gisborne

The wine-producing region of Gisborne is situated on the east coast of the North Island. A quaint seaside town and the first wine region in the world to see the dawn. The region predominantly produces white wines with over half of the vines here being Chardonnay, the red wines in Gisborne are usually Merlot or Malbec, with Gisborne Syrah attracting a lot of attention. Verdant Vineyards in Gisborne stretch inland from Poverty Bay on the East coast to the Ormond Valley and the small town of Patutahi. The glistening Waipaoa River weaves its way through the verdant valleys to the ocean.

Gisborne’s coastal location heavily influences the verdant vineyards with a sheltered macroclimate and plentiful sunshine, it is one of the most reliable areas in New Zealand for grape growing. Viticulture began in the 1800s in Gisborne when vine carrying settlers landed in Poverty Bay, mistakenly believing it to be Hawkes Bay. Captain Cook made his first landfall in New Zealand here in 1769 and the region is a huge part of the settlement of the country. The wine industry here took off in the 1920s, in the ’70s the region’s wines were attracting international attention. The Gisborne Gewurztraminer made its way into the wine cellar of Queen Elizabeth II. Gisborne was the largest wine-producing region in New Zealand, before the explosion of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in the 1980's.

The region is recognized as one of the “fruit bowls” of the country with a golden climate creating an abundance of fresh delicious produce such as citrus, stone, kiwifruit, avocados, and a wide variety of vegetables. The fertile plains and unique soil in the region allow a dry farming season where a large number of grape varieties are grown.

Nelson

The Nelson Tasman region is filled with picturesque vineyards dotted throughout the valley, which is some of the country’s most freshly scented sauvignon blanc and chardonnay as well as vibrant pinot noir. Nelson is a quaint, garden-filled town with spectacular views over the Tasman Bay, a great location for outdoor lovers with popular activities such as walking, hiking, camping, and visiting the stunning Abel Tasman National Park and the Kahurangi National Park. Nestled at the northern end of New Zealand’s South Island and surrounded by mountains on three sides, the little-known wine region of Nelson features a unique meso-climate perfect for aromatic grape varieties. There are wines made from Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer that are all considered to be some of the best in the country.

Nelson is a historic town surrounded by farmland that extends south across the Waimea Plains, into the hills of Moutere. The town was established in 1841, the first city on the South Island, the region is home to over 40 wineries, most being small, boutique operations that produce premium wines. The verdant vineyards that surround the town are blessed with a sunny climate with a moderate and constant sea breeze, with long warm summers, followed by long, dry autumns for an extended growing season.

The region has a range of soils with the most predominant type made up of alluvial gravel from ancient river beds. The soil in Nelson is free-draining, and produces less leafy foliage, and puts more energy into making small, concentrated berries. The region is well suited to aromatic varieties, with the white wines of the area featuring a flinty, crisp citrus flavor and green apple characteristics. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are some of the aromatic varieties widely produced in Nelson, the wines here are more elegant in style than other popular wine regions.

Auckland

The wine region in Auckland is one of the oldest in the country and known for some of the best-known wines in New Zealand. The island is brimming with over 30 wineries and vineyards dotted across the island, from prominent cliff-top wineries to small cellar doors, there are award-winning vintages and a wide range of varietals. Auckland is simply beautiful with verdant countryside vistas and sweeping views across the Hauraki Gulf. The stunning island has plenty to offer with charming cafes, world-class restaurants, boutique vineyards, and some of the top wineries. The vineyards here are nestled in the countryside from north to south of the heart of the city, and mostly produce Chardonnay, and Bordeaux grape varieties Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

The majority of Auckland lies on a narrow stretch of land nestled between the Tasman Sea in the west and the Pacific Ocean in the east. The vinous history of the city began in the late 19th century when the Dalmatian settlers arrived and came to dig for kauri gum, which was a very valuable resource at that time. These settlers also brought winegrowing traditions from their Croatian roots and planted grapevines on the surrounding land. The modern wine industry of New Zealand traces its roots back to these settlers, and Auckland is the base for many headquarters and cellar door tasting operations of many Croatian-run wine companies such as Babich, Nobilo, and Villa Maria.

The humid climate in Auckland is due to its coastal location and high rainfall, which make it challenging for grape growing. There are sheltered parts in the eastern region that are protected by the Waitakere Ranges and from the prevailing westerly weather systems. The region experiences sufficiently warmer temperatures during the growing season which helps to ripen the grapes and assists in the production of high-quality wines.

Wellington

Wellington is a popular wine-producing region and capital city, port, and major commercial center of New Zealand. The city is nestled in the extreme south of the North Island. The region is blanketed with rolling hills and verdant valleys that surround Wellington Harbour, an almost landlocked bay that is one of the world’s finest harbors. Mount Victoria is set in the heart of the city rising 643 feet high. The city produces a wide range of wines such as fine, elegant Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.

Natural wines are made in the heart of Wellington with a wide array of wine experiences to be had at high-end locations as well as casual, laid-back bars. Wellington is a fantastic place to visit and a culinary capital with plenty of delicious cuisine and world-class wines to satisfy your palate. The original vines were planted in Wellington in the mid 18th century, originally known as Val Du Charron (Valley of the Wagonmaker), it was renamed in 1840 to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. Wellington has since become one of the most important wine-growing areas in the country. Wellington produces a variety of wine styles and is an important producer of young vines. The region also boasts the James Sedgwick single grain distillery which is home to the Bain’s whiskey brand. The magnificent wineries of Wellington highlight the country’s unique wines, especially red wines.