Discovering Marlborough’s wine region

When you think wine and New Zealand, Marlborough is one of the first things that springs to mind – and with good reason.

Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest and foremost wine growing region and it draws visitors with more than 150 wineries as well as great restaurants, boutique food producers and amazing seafood.

Explore some of the 37 cellar doors ranging from well-known international wine brands to small boutique family producers. The boutique breweries Moa and Renaissance are also based in Marlborough, creating delicious craft beers to complement the region’s gourmet cuisine.

A range of experiences await you when visiting cellar doors, from close-up encounters with the rare New Zealand Native Falcon, to barrel tastings, sauvignon blanc masterclasses, and opportunities to create your very of blend of sauvignon blanc or pinot noir.

Lunch menus at favourites such as Allan Scott Wines, Brancott Estate Heritage Centre, Giesen Wines, Wairau River and Wither Hills feature local delicacies like smoked salmon, cheeses and wild game.

Marlborough is renowned for its abundance of produce such as cherries, strawberries, apricots, herbs and vegetables – purchase at the farmers’ gate or at the Sunday Farmers’ Market. The Marlborough Sounds provide plentiful, succulent seafood: King (Chinook) salmon, scallops, crayfish, Greenshell™ Mussels, oysters, clams, blue cod and snapper, and these all feature on many local restaurant menus.

In Havelock and Picton, gateways to the Marlborough Sounds, seafood cruises provide the ultimate in seafood experiences, visiting salmon and mussel farms and tasting delicious fresh seafood matched with a glass of the region’s sauvignon blanc.

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If you are looking for somewhere to stay, the large numbers of visitors from Nelson, Wellington and further afield has spawned a number of B&Bs throughout the district, trying to out-luxury one another. If you prefer something a bit bigger, head into Blenheim where you can find more options, including the 5-star Chateau Marlborough.

The best part apart a visit to this area of New Zealand? You don’t even have to be a wine connoisseur to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the countryside!