Wine Regions

The quality of wine in New Zealand is recognised as being right up there with the best in the world, and if you’re planning a holiday to New Zealand, you really should consider making a trip out to one of the stunning vineyards to sample some of the world’s finest wines.

Grape vines were first planted in New Zealand in the Northland region as early as 1819, and Mission Estate in Hawke’s Bay is the country’s oldest operational vineyard, dating back to 1951.

We had to wait until late 1970s for take-off in New Zealand but when it did, wine production boomed with a flourish after Marlborough, the nation’s largest wine producing region, began bottling exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinotage. From the 1980 production and quality excelled at apace, and in 2013 some 250 million litres of wine were produced, mostly from the ten major and internationally acclaimed regions.

The wine regions of New Zealand stretch the full length of the country meaning that wherever you go, you’ll never have far to travel to pay one a visit.

Sauvignon Blanc is the most commonly grown grape but other popular whites include Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc and Viognier; while reds are often a blend of varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.

Marlborough produces almost half of all New Zealand’s wine and many wine critics agree that there’s nowhere in the world that produces Sauvignon Blanc finer than the vineyards in this region. Most vineyards here produce outstanding Sauvignon Blanc, but if you’re interested in something a little different, the Hunter’s Wines vineyard produces a delicious oak-aged fume Blanc, which is worth tracking down. The Herzog and Highfield Estate are also noteworthy wineries of the region and the nation’s highly-regarded Methode Traditionelle sparkling wine is also made here.

The second largest region is Hawkes Bay renowned for its full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and complex Chardonnay wines. If you’re in the area, then the Craggy Range winery should be high up on your list of places to visit.

Auckland, a popular destination for many tourists, has around 100 vineyards and wineries in the area that produce many sublime Bordeaux style wines. There are a number of great restaurants to choose from in Auckland too, making a stop here a real treat for food and drink buffs.

Martinborough is home to the Ata Rangi winery which produces a splendid Pinot Noir. Gisborne, in the north, is known for its Chardonnay, while neighbouring Waikato (aka Bay of Plenty) specialises in Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay wines.

Canterbury makes exquisite Riesling and Pinot Noir wines, as does the Nelson region on the northern tip of South Island, which also specialises in Merlot. The Otago region in the far south makes up the full list of ten major regions. New Zealand Wine Tours, based in Queenstown, organises visits to the beautiful Otago region, while Waipara Wine Tours runs tours to the Canterbury regions from Christchurch.

Not all vineyards are open year-round, and they don’t all have tasting rooms, so why not give our travel experts a call on {telephone-number}, tell us what sort of holiday you’re after and we’ll do the legwork? We’ll be able to find hotels in the wine regions you’d like to visit, arrange the vineyard tours for you and much more besides.