Marlborough:

Wine region

Winemaking in Marlborough began in earnest in the early 1980s. Attracted by the high sunshine hours and the stony fertile land of the Wairau plains and more recently the Awatere Valley, these avant-garde of Marlborough winemakers were soon producing award-winning Sauvignon Blanc wines, launching Marlborough onto the world stage as a wine producing region. Others soon followed and now the region boasts over 160 registered wineries, over 40 of which have open cellar doors where you can taste and buy.

Take a tour.

With so many wineries to choose from, why not take advantage of a pre-arranged wine tour with a local tour operator and visit a selection of the region’s top wine producers. You can also map out your own route to explore your favourites: self-drive or travel in style in a chauffeur-driven Jaguar. If you like to mix your daily exercise with the pleasure of a tasting or two then a popular alternative is a cycle tour.

Whichever mode of transport you choose be sure to stop off for a bite along the way at one of the many winery restaurants.  To really immerse yourself in Marlborough’s wine country there are plenty of delightful places to stay amid the vines as well as several boutique spas where you can be pampered from head to toe.

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A boutique experience.

As well as the more renowned Marlborough wine labels there are plenty of family owned and boutique wineries offering their own twist on the region’s traditional Sauvignon Blanc and emerging wine varieties like Pinot Noir, Riesling and other aromatics. Take a behind the scenes tour to meet the winemakers and taste their wares, many of which are available in limited quantities exclusively at their cellar door. You’ll also discover plenty of boutique produce from local growers: including oils, honeys, preserves, fine chocolates and even saffron, as well as some fabulous examples of artisan breweries with an array of beers to complement the region’s food.

 

Gourmet Food

You can enjoy our local wines along with a tantalising array of tasty dishes at Marlborough’s many restaurants, cafes and eateries as Marlborough’s talented chefs make the most of the fresh local seafood and other tasty produce to tempt your tastebuds. Or explore the local Farmers Market and create your own masterpiece to go with your favourite local vintage. World renowned Green Shell Mussels, the abundance of Pacific Coast seafood, award-winning local salmon and wild game are among the gastronomic choices on offer, not to mention seasonal fruits from the local orchards – in a word, yum!

Featured Wine Operators