Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MARLBOROUGH WINERIES
Marlborough is NZ's vinous colossus, producing around three quarters of the country's wine. At last count, there
were 22,600 hectares of vines planted - that's approximately 26,500 rugby pitches! Sunny days and cool nights
create the perfect conditions for cool-climate grapes: world-famous sauvignon blanc, top-notch pinot noir, and
notable chardonnay, riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot gris and bubbly. Drifting between tasting rooms and dining
among the vines is a quintessential South Island experience.
The majority of Marlborough's 148 wineries lie within the Wairau Valley around Blenheim and Renwick, with
others blanketing the cooler Awatere Valley or creeping up the southern-side valleys of the Wairau.
A Taste of the Tastings
Around 35 wineries are open to the public. Our picks of the bunch provide a range of high-quality cellar door ex-
periences, with most being open from around 10.30am till 4.30pm (some scale back operations in winter). Winer-
ies may charge a small fee for tasting, normally refunded if you purchase a bottle. Pick up a copy of the
Marlbor-
ough Wine Trail
map from Blenheim i-SITE (
Click here
), also available online at
www.wine-marlborough.co.nz
.
If your time is limited, pop into
Wino's
(
www.winos.co.nz
; 49 Grove Rd) in Blenheim, a sterling one-stop shop
for some of Marlborough's finer and less common drops.
Auntsfield Estate
(
www.auntsfield.co.nz
; 270 Paynters Rd) Quality hand-crafted wines from this historic and
picturesque vineyard at the foot of the hills. Tours by arrangement ($15).
Bladen Estate
MAP
(
www.bladen.co.nz
;
83 Conders Bend Rd) Bijou family winery that's big on charm.
Brancott Estate
(
www.brancottestate.com
; 180 Brancott Rd) Ubermodern cellar door and restaurant complex
atop a hillock that overlooks one of the original sauvignon blanc vineyards.
Clos Henri
(
www.clos-henri.com
;
639 SH63) French winemaking meets Marlborough terroir with
très bien
res-
ults. A beautifully restored local country church houses the cellar door.
pinot noir, and Jack's Raw Bar Summer Sundays for shucked oysters and clams. Decadent.
Forrest
MAP
(
www.forrest.co.nz
; 19 Blicks Rd) Doctor-owners produce and prescribe a range of fine vinous
medicines, including some mood-altering riesling.
Framingham
MAP
(
www.framingham.co.nz
;
19 Conders Bend Rd)
Consistent, quality wines including
exceptional rieslings and stellar stickies.
Gibson Bridge
MAP
(
www.gibsonbridge.co.nz
; cnr Gee St & SH6) Peachy pinot gris, and a grandiose cellar
door in a minuscule space.
Huia
MAP
(
www.huia.net.nz
;
22 Boyces Rd) Sustainable, small-scale winegrowing and the cutest yellow
tasting room in town. Delectable dry-style gewürztraminer.
Saint Clair
(
www.saintclair.co.nz
; 13 Selmes Rd; 9am-5pm) Prepare to be blown away by the Pioneer Block
and Reserve range sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. Cafe on site.
architecture at this espionage-themed winery, with great wines across the board. Memorable merchandise.
