Tours, tastings, and cellar doors: visiting the best Marlborough wineries

To start with, let’s lay out an idea of what to expect when dropping into a vineyard for a tasting, a tour, or a quick stop and shop on your way.

Some Marlborough wineries you probably already know about

These are the big boys. No surprises with any of the names here, but people who haven’t already visited these Marlborough wineries on site may be pleased to learn that they all offer the full spectrum of convenience and facilities expected of a winery visit, of any kind: tours, tastings, retail stores, excellent on-site restaurants, function rooms, corporate events, family-friendly facilities, and large outdoor green spaces and dining areas with superb views. Handily, pretty much all of them are also within a 15-minute drive (or 40-minute bike ride!) from Blenheim:

Giesen Wines

Founded by three German brothers but 100% Marlborough through and through, Giesen have an attractive winery to visit with an awesome restaurant famous for its oversized platters.

Brancott Estate

The vines of New Zealand’s biggest wine producer (the label formerly known as Montana) is also one of the most convenient wineries to visit from Blenheim, making Brancott Estate (and its dizzying range of vintages) a handy one-stop shop for anybody short on time.

Cloudy Bay

The vineyard that produces Marlborough’s most famous sauvignon blanc is open for public tastings throughout the year, only 8 kilometres northwest of Blenheim and a short drive from the beautiful bay that inspired its name.

Villa Maria

While not strictly a local in terms of origin, this New Zealand wine giant has made itself more than comfortable at its spacious vineyard on the Wairau Valley floor near Blenheim Airport. Villa Maria is great for the budget-conscious, too, as they offer generous free tastings and great value for their 7- and 10-wine tasting boards.

Wither Hills

Basically walkable from anywhere in Blenheim, Wither Hills is surely one of the easiest do-it-all wine experiences in New Zealand: take a tour, mix your own blend, book a private guided tasting, or stroll between the vines before a gourmet lunch at the renowned Wither Hills Restaurant.

Saint Clair

Situated almost due north of Blenheim – away from the main vineyard drag west of town – Saint Clair has quietly amassed an international reputation and array of awards to match any of its lofty neighbours. Try the outstanding chardonnay (see below) from a seat at the acclaimed Vineyard Kitchen overlooking superb views of the Richmond Ranges.

Some Marlborough wineries you might not (but ought to) know about

These Marlborough wineries may not be quite as famous as those above, nationally or globally, but they all do things in their own, innovative ways – and they are all well worth a visit, with beautiful views, great food, or interesting behind-the-scenes tours and experiences:

Wairau River Wines

The definition of a family business, all aspects of this Marlborough winery (from pruning to picking to touring and cooking) have been run by members of the Rose family since the 1970s.

Framingham Wines

The rare Marlborough winery that specialises in riesling rather than sauvignon blanc, this quirky Renwick vineyard has a great sheltered courtyard engraved with famous rock lyrics.

Huia

A leader among Marlborough wineries for organic and biodynamic growing and production principles, Huia also make vegan-friendly wine, and their popular ‘Hunky Dory’ sauvignon blanc is gaining recognition among both connoisseurs and casual drinkers.

Seresin Estate

A bit further off the beaten track than most Marlborough wineries, Seresin Estate is a small vineyard nestled into a beautiful backcountry landscape that also adheres to organic and biodynamic wine-making principles.

Spy Valley Wines

Edgy architecture and jaw-dropping views of the Waihopai Valley come together at Spy, a uniquely espionage-themed Marlborough winery. Spy Valley is fantastic for entertaining kids and families, but just as good at satisfying refined wine tastes.

Nautilus Estate

Small but innovative, Nautilus make an impressive range of hand-crafted wines that go beyond the usual selection, like a top-quality sparkling wine and their award-winning ‘albarino’. Plus, they provide picnic blankets and awesome artisan cheeses for a low-key yet memorable picnic lunch between tastings.

The best Marlborough wineries for particular varietals

If you want to follow your nose – or palate – around Marlborough wineries, it’s possible to pick a pathway following particular varietals and specialities of certain vineyards:

Sauvignon Blanc

Everybody knows Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and almost every winery does a world-leading version of it (especially the likes of Cloudy Bay and Wither Hills, who attract international visitors to make a special trip to New Zealand just to visit their wineries), so it’s pretty much impossible to go wrong if it’s sauvignon blanc you’re chasing.

However, if you’re looking to discover something different, there are dozens of other wine varietals produced in Marlborough to an (arguably) equally world-class standard:

Riesling

Given the prevailing suitability of the soils and climate to producing sauvignon blanc, the level of Marlborough riesling production is not even close to that of its better-known relative. However, there is one vineyard where riesling is the main event: Framingham Wines in Renwick. Home to some of Marlborough’s oldest riesling vines, this quirky little vineyard produces a range of different riesling varieties in addition to chardonnay, montepulciano and gewurztraminer labels. It is also known for its courtyard paved with stones that have been engraved with the lyrics from famous rock songs.

Chardonnay

It’s hard to go past Saint Clair when talking about Marlborough wineries who do a good chardonnay – theirs ranked in the top 10 chardonnays in the world at the prestigious Gold Medal Chardonnay du Monde awards in 2016, and it is consistently listed among the best in the country.

Sparkling, Champagne-style wine

No.1 Family Estate, run by Frenchman Daniel Le Brun, has been leading the way for Marlborough’s burgeoning sparkling wine production for over two decades, although other labels – such as Nautilus Estate and Huia vineyards – put out excellent small-batch sparkling wines, too.

Pinot noir

While nowhere near as famous as its sauvignon cousin, Marlborough pinot noir also accounts for a huge amount of acreage, and it has a well-deserved reputation within both New Zealand and world wine circles. Most of the lighter and aromatic varietals come from vineyards along the valley floor closest to Blenheim (such as Villa Maria and Wither Hills), while heavier, more robust pinots come from the clay loam soils of the southern valleys (such as the legendary ‘The Ned’ from Marisco Vineyards).

Syrah and earthy reds

Although rarer in the area than pinot noir production, some wine-makers manage to produce some excellent earthy reds, such as Te Whare Ra’s exquisite boutique syrah, Framingham’s rich montepulciano, and Rock Ferry’s voluptuous tempranillo.

The best Marlborough wineries for fine dining and good food

If it’s delicious food you’re after, then these are some of the many, many Marlborough wineries that combine great wine-making with memorable dining experiences. Whether you’re after fine dining or casual family eating, Marlborough wineries run the gamut of delicious gourmet offerings:

Alan Scott Family Winemakers

A suitable choice for those with high standards and fine tastes, Alan Scott’s exquisite on-site restaurant is equally able to satisfy homely-comfort cravings and family diners as it is gourmands and haute cuisine admirers. They offer food pairings with a uniquely expansive range of their wines, a diverse cellar that includes plenty of surprises and things you won’t find elsewhere (such as their house-made ginger wine).

Wairau River

Wairau River Wines has been a 100% family operation since helping to pioneer Marlborough wine-making in the late 1970s, and it is still entirely run by members of the Rose family. This includes its eponymous restaurant, which has won plaudits overseas and at home for balancing fine-dining quality with a casual atmosphere, not to mention perfecting a few famous specialties along the way – none more so than the mouthwatering blue cheese soufflé!

Cloudy Bay

Any fans of Japanese or raw dining will want to head straight to Oyster Bay, where the on-site Jack’s Raw Bar specialises in Japanese-inspired raw dishes like seafood sashimi and beef tartare, utilising the best of Marlborough’s delicious fresh seafood and local farm produce.

Rock Ferry

If you like the idea of casual haute cuisine, then Rock Ferry punches well above its weight in terms of gourmet offerings, and it is a fine choice for a quick but quality lunch. Enjoy a hearty organic steak sandwich alongside one of their vibrant red wines.

The best Marlborough wineries to take kids and families

We know that hopping from winery to winery watching parents do tastings may not feature very highly on most children’s wish lists. However, here are some of the many Marlborough wineries who make a special effort to entertain kids just as much as adults, combining child-friendly activities with safe surroundings and excellent wine experiences for the adults:

Yealands Estate

Situated just below the busy string of vineyards along the main valley floor west of Blenheim, this unique winery situated in the picturesque Awatere Valley is a great option for families. Wine tours aren’t normally on the list of ways to entertain children, but this is one exception: Yealands let you do a self-guided tour around the vineyards (via the winery’s app, downloadable on site) at your own pace, an option that is more attractive to kids (and easier for parents to go along with) than the more regimented tours and tastings usually on offer. There are several particular quirks here that kids may enjoy, too – such as music being played to the vines to help the grapes in their maturing – and of course kids will love meeting the troupe of playful resident animals here, which includes baby-doll sheep, overconfident chickens and friendly pigs.

Whitehaven Wine

If you don’t feel like taking on a full winery tour, or you’re short of time and are trying to think of ways to please all family members at once, then Whitehaven Wine’s tasting room at The Vines Village (next door to The Vines cafe, on the outskirts of Blenheim) could be just the ticket. Here – thanks in large part to Whitehaven’s close association with the adjacent Vines Cafe – kids can play away to their heart’s content on an exciting pirate-themed play area, feed ducks and hens beside the (fully fenced) pond within sight of the tasting room, or run around the expansive green space containing a market garden and other things to explore, while parents enjoy a tasting tray of Whitehaven’s finest varietals matched with tasty snacks or a full-on meal.

The best Marlborough wineries for enjoying the views and atmosphere

Visiting Marlborough wineries is as much about the setting and experience as it is about the wine, and these ones are particularly pleasing for those who love a good view, enjoy taking in the serenity, or want an unbeatable backdrop for their next Instagram post:

Highfield

You might presume that the clue is in the title with this one: perhaps a vineyard situated on a high plateau overlooking gorgeous surroundings? Part of that is right, but what really puts Highfield on this list is something less predictable, and more unique: a Tuscan-inspired tower that offers stunning 360-degree views over the braided Wairau River, across rolling golden hills and towards the ocean and wider Marlborough region.

Yealands

Yealands Estate offers some of the best ocean views not only of Marlborough wineries, but of anywhere in Marlborough, with a staggering vantage point overlooking Cook Straight directly from the winery terrace and garden. On a clear day, you can see all the way along Cape Campbell, including the iconic lighthouse that featured in the film The Light Between Oceans.

Te Whare Ra

It may be one of Marlborough’s smallest wineries, but Te Whare Ra packs a serious punch when it comes to breathtaking viewpoints. Rugged mountain views and vine-laden slopes bending in all directions form the scenic backdrop at this little winery, where you can take it all in over a glass of delicious boutique wine from the elevated winery terrace.

Auntsfield Estate

If it’s pure storybook atmosphere you’re after, then Auntsfield Estate is worth a visit. This was where Marlborough’s first ever vines were planted, way back in 1873. You can learn about the early, early history of Marlborough’s wine heritage here and also see an original 19th-century wine cellar – although these days most people think it looks more like a hobbit hole used in filming The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit than a working wine cellar: a curved, low-roofed wooden structure half swallowed up by trees and encroaching forest!

Clos Henri

As close to French wine royalty as you’ll find in Marlborough, this organic winery is run by the Bourgeois family who have produced ten generations of expert winemakers from Sancerre, France. After a meticulous twelve year global search, the family chose Marlborough as the ideal location to expand their production of premium sauvignon blanc and pinot noir, given similar growing conditions to their home in Sancerre. The main reason many people remember visiting this vineyard in Marlborough, however, is the picturesque chapel of their cellar door, set against a postcard-perfect backdrop of towering trees with views out over the vines towards rugged hills – it’s an ideal photo opp between tastings.

The best organic Marlborough wineries and sustainable wineries

Marlborough wine is big business, and with big business often comes industrial shortcuts and ecological oversights. If the scale and potential unsustainability of Marlborough wineries makes you uneasy, don’t worry – here are some of the Marlborough wineries dedicated to doing things in an ecologically sensitive, sustainable way, setting an example for what future wine production in Marlborough might look like while already producing outstanding wine and offering fantastic visitor experiences:

Huia are one of Marlborough’s first fully organic, biodynamic, AND vegan-friendly wineries, and they are a founding member of the MANA Winegrowers organic collective. Huia puts out an impressive range of varieties (including a great sparkling wine) and offers cellar door tastings at their vineyard in Rapaura.

• Seresin Estate is another of Marlborough’s growing number of wineries focusing on producing wine in line with organic and biodynamic principles. Sipping some Seresin, you can be sure that more care than normal has been taken at every to ensure a clean, chemical-free and sustainable method has gone into making top-shelf wine to go with their top-shelf views.
• Giesen may be among the biggest names in Marlborough wine producers, but they haven’t let the necessities of competing on an industrial scale compromise their principles. Giesen have a select range of organic wines, and they also support local growers and farmers to source products for some entirely organic dishes served at their restaurant.
• FROMM is an innovative organic winery who also champion and practice dry farming, meaning their vines are left to search for water themselves by sending down deep roots, rather than rely on being irrigated daily like conventional vineyards. This saves, according to estimates, approximately 10 million litres of water every year.