New Zealand Wine Regions and Tours
Why is the world discovering New Zealand wine?
Balance, vibrant flavours and elegance.
In a nutshell New Zealand represents the quality, precision and complexity that is needed to produce world class wines vintage after vintage. From humble beginnings in the late 1800’s to the discovery of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in the 1980’s and now world class Pinot Noir to rival the finest of Burgundy, New Zealand terroir is truly in her element.
Our New Zealand Wine Tours
If you are looking for the perfect wine tour for your next vacation to New Zealand, then you have found the best. Our aim here at Vacations New Zealand is to give you the insight to wine production, wine styles of each wine region and to tour our scenic vineyards and beautiful countryside. Each guided wine tour is personalised to your requirements and can be combined to include food, cuisine and culinary cooking experiences as well.
Talk with winemakers, sample from the barrel, taste and slurp your way around New Zealand’s finest wine and food regions. If you are a wine tasting club or larger group please contact us to organise your customised wine tour of New Zealand.
South Island Wine Tour - 4 nights/ 4 days. Discover the very best of the South Island wine regions with this whirl-wind tour. Wine regions: Gibbston valley, Central Otago, Waipara and Marlborough
New Zealand Wine Tour - 10 nights/ 11 days. New Zealand wine from top to bottom, you won’t miss a thing! Wine regions: Waiheke Island, Hawke’s Bay, Gibbston Valley, Central Otago, Waipara and Marlborough
Gourmet Wine & Food Tour NZ – 10 days/nights exploring the best of New Zealand’s scenery, wine regions and boutique food producers. Start in Auckland and finish in Christchurch. Wine regions: Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough and Waipara.
Custom design your own tour for your time frame and luxury accommodation requirements.
Each tour includes a driver/guide who has wine industry knowledge and will safely drive you throughout your wine tour.
If you are looking for a Small Group wine tour visit: Enthusiast Wine Tours - specialists in affordable scenic wine tours to New Zealand!
New Zealand Wine Regions
North Island
With its warm temperate climate 1 hours drive north of Auckland, Matakana is a boutique wine region, with its specialty shops, famous farmers market on Saturday morning and a popular weekend destination from the city. Famous for its Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Popular wineries include: Ascension wine estate, Brick Bay and Ransom Wines.
Located only a 25 minute ferry ride from Auckland city is Waiheke Island. Once the home of thousands of mighty Kauri trees, the British settlers of the 1900’s discovered this wood to be perfect masts for their ships and quickly set about clearing the land. Then the the wine-growers discovered it and Waiheke deftly built a reputation for fine Bordeaux style red wines and Chardonnays. Popular wineries include: Goldwater estate, Mudbrick vineyard, Passage Rock wines and Cable Bay Vineyards to name a few.
New Zealand’s second largest producing wine region is the Hawke’s Bay. Based around the art deco city of Napier, this wine region has now famously promoted itself around the Gimblett Gravels – a 800 hectare piece of prime real estate known for its deliciously elegant Syrahs and complex Bordeaux style reds. White wine varieties are certainly not lost here as long lived Chardonnays, fullbodied Pinot Gris and stylish Sauvignon Blanc excel here. There are a long list of very good wineries: Vidal, Church Road, Black Barn, Clearview, Craggy Range, Ngatarawa, Trinity Hill and many more.
Roughly 1 hours drive north east of Wellington city is the wine region based around the town of Martinborough. Putting New Zealand Pinot Noir on the world stage, this region produces silky smooth forest floor Pinot Noir. Famous for its Toast Martinborough wine festival in November each year and with over 10,000 willing participants, it is the place to be for any wine enthusiast. Notable wineries include: Dry River, Escarpment, Ata Rangi and Palliser Estate.
South Island
As New Zealand’s largest producing wine region, Marlborough and Sauvignon Blanc are now a household name. With an incredible selection of wineries to choose from, 2-3 days here in this region will enable you to really experience the incredible variety that is Sauvignon Blanc. Each vineyard and winery from the largest to the smallest is worth a visit as hidden gems lie amongst some of the smaller producers. Well worth a visit are Auntsfield Estate, Seresin (Biodynamic), Villa Maria Estate, Te Whare Ra, Hans Herzog, Clos Henri and of course Cloudy Bay.
If you enjoy aromatic white varieties then the Waipara region 1 hour north of Christchurch is where you want to visit. Riesling is the star variety of this region, with most wineries producing at least 2 styles and some up to 5 styles, from the very dry to the very sweet and everything in between. With a striking balanced acidity and full flavour Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gerwurztraminer grows well in this cool climate region. Must visit producers: Pegasus Bay, Terrace Edge, Greystone and Muddy water.
Cool climate Pinot Noir from Central Otago is making its name on the world stage. Three regions within this region are Alexander, Gibbston Valley and Bannockburn. Each producing its own distinctive style and not only complex full flavoured Pinot Noir, but fruit driven Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Method traditional sparkling wine can also be found and is produced at a premium level. Wineries to visit: Amisfield, Chard Farm, Peregrine, Mt Difficulty, Pisa Range Estate, Quartz Reef and Bald Hills to name a few.
The best time to visit New Zealand’s wine regions is from spring through early winter (September to June). Vintage months are late Febuary to May and the autunm /fall colours are just spectacular if you are in the wine regions during late April or May.