Marlborough Cellar Doors

With more than 40 cellar doors along the Marlborough leg of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail travellers are spoilt for choice. Sauvignon blanc vines are in abundance in the region, however these days Marlborough offers much more than the pungent, zesty variety wine palates around the world know so well.

As you explore the region you’ll discover luscious gewürztraminer, award winning pinot noir, rich and elegant chardonnay, world class Bordeaux-style reds and magnificent bubbles. To help you plan your Marlborough tasting experience, here’s our suggestions for some of the region’s top boutique wineries to visit.

Lawson’s Dry Hills

Alabama Road, Blenheim www.lawsonsdryhills.co.nz

When Lawson’s Dry Hills was established in 1992, the winery pressed 15 tonnes of grapes. Today it processes 1,000 tonnes of fruit and produces more than 60,000 cases of wine each year. No mean feat in less than 12 years.

Known for its elegant, fruit-forward wines with an emphasis on aromatic whites, the acclaimed  Gewürztraminer is a classic example. Call in at their cellar door on the outskirts of Blenheim to try it, along with their Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Pinot Rosé.

Hans Herzog Estate    

81 Jeffries Road, Blenheim www.herzog.co.nz

The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail is renowned as a gourmet holiday, with a visit to Hans Herzog offering a culinary experience unlike any other along the route. Those who fancy fine dining can enjoy a gourmet experience at the restaurant, or if it’s a relaxed lunch you’re after, the Mediterranean garden bistro is not to be missed. Devoted foodies should take part in a cooking master class and consider extending their stay with a nigh at Herzog’s charming vineyard cottage.

Famed for producing some of New Zealand’s finest handcrafted organic wines, a visit to the cellar door offers the chance to taste these fine wines, along with rarities not often seen in the region, such as Tempranillo, Montepulciano and Gruner Veltliner. 

Forrest Wines   

19 Blicks Road, Renwick www.forrest.co.nz

With seven vineyards in Marlborough and estates elsewhere in New Zealand, Forrest has considerable winemaking flexibility. Not surprisingly the cellar door has one of the widest selections of premium wines in Marlborough, with 16 varieties available for tasting everyday.

The park-like grounds are the ideal picnic spot, and for those who don’t arrive armed with a hamper, Mediterranean tapas platters are available.   

Johanneshof Cellars

SH1, Koromiko, Blenheim www.johanneshof.co.nz

A visit to Johanneshof Cellars is a must on any gewürztraminer lover’s itinerary. Johanneshof’s gewürztraminer has won acclaim vintage after vintage, with the current vintage maintaining the winery’s exalted standards.

The unique cellar has been blasted 50 metres into the hillside through solid rock. With a constant temperature of 12 degrees, it provides ideal conditions for the extended bottle aging many Johanneshof wines undergo.