New Zealand wine regions stretch across 1,600 kilometres, from the subtropical vineyards of Northland to the cooler wine-growing areas of Central Otago. Along the way, you’ll find coastal vineyards, historic wine estates, small family-run wineries and some of the country’s most recognisable wine producers.
With 11 main wine regions, each offering different grape varieties, landscapes and experiences, exploring New Zealand’s wine country can be a trip in itself. Marlborough is internationally known for its Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke’s Bay for its Syrah and Bordeaux-style reds, while Martinborough has built a reputation for its Pinot Noir. Those are the four regions I visited while living in New Zealand for a year and those are the ones I cover here.
I’ll share the cellar doors worth visiting, ways to explore the vineyards by bike or on a wine tour, and recommendations for where to stay while discovering each region.
New Zealand Wine Regions Map to Plan Your Trip
This map shows you the main New Zealand wine regions, winery hubs, recommended bases, and nearby scenic add-ons like Kaiteriteri and Abel Tasman, ideal for planning a relaxed road trip rather than rushing tastings.
During my one-year stay, I visited many New Zealand wine regions, tried my fair share of wine and visited vineyards.
From the boom of natural wines in Wellington to falling even more for oaky chardonnays and discovering that a rosé can actually taste incredibly good – this post helps you plan to visit some of the best New Zealand wine regions, how to get there, which vineyards are worth visiting and which wine is a must-try!
New Zealand Wine Regions North Island
Hawke’s Bay Wineries
Napier & Hastings
Wellington to Napier: 4 hours by car | 5 hours 40 minutes by bus
Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s Art Deco capital as well as the first stop on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. It’s a popular place for self-guided wine tours, with flat cycling trails allowing you to visit more than 30+ cellar doors.
You shouldn’t miss this gorgeous city and its pastel-coloured Art Deco buildings by any means. Take a map from the local i-visit and go on a street art walking tour and admire the cool ocean conservation-inspired murals.
Keen to taste your way through the Hawke’s Bay wineries in style? Book this traveller-favourite Hawke’s Bay Cellar Tour that will visit all the region’s gems in a 1970 combi van!
How To Get Into Hawke’s Bay
If you love exploring independently, make sure to rent your car here to allow for a fun New Zealand road trip and cover other sights in the cities that are worth visiting! From Wellington, it’s a 4-hour drive that leads you through Palmerston North to the two wine cities of the region. Coming from Auckland, it takes a good 6-7 hours. You can also take the InterCity buses, which stop in either Hastings or Napier city centre.
Hawke’s Bay Wine Tour
Mission Estate
Established in 1851, Mission Estate Winery is New Zealand’s oldest winery. It’s located in an elegant seminary and offers lots of outdoor seating and a history-rich interior. This had to be one of my favourite vineyards to visit in Hawke’s Bay, especially since the place was too pretty!
If you want to visit two Napier wine regions and join four wine tastings, this traveller-recommended Classic Napier Luncheon & Wine Tasting Tour is for you! The tasting features interesting wines and also includes a lovely branded glass.
Church Road Winery
This one got me hooked way before I even went to Napier. As I am a big fan of oaky chardonnay, Church Road Winery is such a winner! Try to go for a cheese platter at lunch and relax outside in their bean bags, sipping away on a glass. They have an Inspired by the Bay Tasting, which costs NZD $25.00
Clearview Estate
Family-owned since 1986, the cellar door offers visitors a beautifully bespoke wine tasting. The restaurant serves Mediterranean-style dining in a green vineyard setting. Make sure to try their Chardonnay! Clearview Estate is a superb Hawke’s Bay winery and has produced wine for 30 years- winning continuous five-star gold medal awards for it!
To make wine tasting an active experience, you should go for this self-guided vineyard cycling tour! Starting on the coast trail, you might pass some wildlife and head from vineyard to vineyard – all in your own time!
Best Hotels to Stay in Napier, New Zealand, North Island
Luxury: If you want a true splurge, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is it. Remote, dramatic clifftop views, world-class food and wine on site. Best for a special occasion or slow wine-focused stay.
Mid-range: Choose Porters Boutique Hotel, Havelock North for a stylish and modern stay, right where you want to be for winery hopping. Easy base if you’re doing self-guided tastings or cycling.
After savoring the Chardonnays of Hawke’s Bay, head south to Wairarapa, where Martinborough’s pinot noirs await.
Wairarapa
Martinborough Wineries
Wellington to Martinborough: 75 minutes by car | 1 hour 15 minutes by train |
2 hours by shuttle
The Wairarapa is a region in the southeastern corner of New Zealand’s North Island, near Wellington. It’s a compact and varied region, full of boutique vineyards producing wine of exceptional quality. The Martinborough wineries produce some of the world’s best pinot noir alongside outstanding Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc, stylish Chardonnay, Syrah and dessert wines.
The vineyards are in the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, only 30 km from the sea, welcoming people with a variety of wine tourism activities.
To see the best-kept Martinborough wineries, make sure to reserve a spot on this guided Martinborough in a Day Wine Tasting & Lunch Tour.
From personal experience, the Martinborough wineries have to be my favourite New Zealand wine regions, not just because it’s a stone’s throw away from Wellington, but also because you’ve got 20+ wineries nearby.
Get Into Martinborough
The most convenient option is to get there in a car and stay the night in town. As accommodation in Martinborough is limited and gets pricey, consider staying in the nearby village of Greytown. A charming little place that won the award of being ‘New Zealand’s Most Beautiful Small Town’ – with good reason.
Alternatively, you can take the train (Wairarapa Line) from the Wellington train station in the morning and get it back in the late afternoon. You would get off in Featherston to catch the bus to Martinborough. Conveniently, the buses are scheduled to wait for the train at the station.
Once in Martinborough, a fun way to explore the area is to hop on a bike from Green Jersey Cycle Tours and start your self-guided wine tour! Full-day bike hire will cost $40 – make sure to book in advance as they can fill up quickly!
Wine Tour Martinborough
Poppies
The best atmosphere in all of Martinborough – Poppies is worth a visit for their homegrown wine as much as it is for their delicious, varied sharing platters. An elegant but laid-back venue, surrounded by their vineyard, makes it the ideal place for a wedding reception or big celebration. A wine tasting will cost NZ $15 (refunded if you purchase a bottle) and will let you try 6 wines.
Schubert Wines
Established in 1998, Schubert Wines is a small but welcoming vineyard that serves great pinot noir. Even on a rainy day, you can have a cosy wine tasting. My favourite was their Rosé – with notes of strawberry and pomegranate. So good! The wine tasting costs NZ $15 per person (waived with purchase of a bottle), with 5 wines to try.
Colombo Martinborough
One of my favourite vineyards, to which I went back twice! Colombo Martinborough lies at the far end of the Martinborough wine area, with a great outdoor area. In summer, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a glass (or two) accompanied by their tasty pizza. Here, you can choose between a regular wine tasting and flights of 4 or 6 wines. We opted for a flight of 4 to share. You can get a white flight for NZ $28 and a red flight for NZ $30. Again, one of the tastiest ones was their Rosé!
Alana Estate
A premium boutique winery situated at the entrance to Martinborough. Alana has a great laid-back, intimate atmosphere, which allowed us to taste the wines seated outdoors. I recommend adding Alana Estate to your tour through these New Zealand wine regions!
Haythornthwaite Wines
Lovely boutique vineyard with substantial platters and cosy, covered outdoor seating. Haythornthwaite is rather a small place in terms of restaurant space, but still a great stop for lunch (no reservation needed) and a taste of their 6 homegrown wines. The tasting ranges from NZ$6 to NZ$24
Palliser Estate
Palliser Wines is one of New Zealand’s premier wine brands that you can find in restaurants worldwide. Beautiful space, a great range of wines – definitely worth a visit!
Margrain Vineyard
Their signature wine are pinot noir and chenin blanc. However, their Pinot Gris is made from some of the oldest vines of any of the New Zealand wine regions.
Cambridge Road Vinery
Go to Cambridge Road Vineyard to enjoy an intimate wine tasting with great views of the adjacent vines.
Where to Stay in Martinborough, New Zealand, North Island
Luxury: The Martinborough Hotel is historic and elegant right on the village square. Perfect if you want to walk to dinner after a day of wine tasting.
Mid-range: Margrain Vineyard Villas is the ideal place to stay, literally among the vines. Quiet, spacious, and ideal if you’re biking between wineries and want a relaxed, wine-country feel.
New Zealand Wine Regions South Island
Wine Tour Marlborough
Blenheim & Renwick
Wellington via Picton to Blenheim: 4 hours by ferry + 20 minutes by car or 26 minutes by train
Marlborough, at the top of the South Island, is the world’s Sauvignon Blanc capital, with vines as far as the eye can see. From Blenheim, you can explore over 30 cellar doors on a full-day wine tour – definitely one of my favorite ways to taste Marlborough’s legendary wines. Ready to taste Marlborough’s legendary sauvignon blanc? Reserve your spot on this full-day Marlborough wine tour from Blenheim.
The second runner-up in terms of wine grapes is pinot noir, along with fruity chardonnays and crisp rieslings. The whole region of Marlborough encompasses the towns of Blenheim and Picton. From there, you would start your wine adventure or go on a trip through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds.
How To Get Into Marlborough
If you are coming from the North Island, taking the ferry from either Bluebridge or Interislander is a good choice when you have your own car. Otherwise, if I did it again, I would take the plane directly to Blenheim.
Tip: When on the ferry, make sure to sit up top in case it gets too bumpy inside.
Best Wine Tours Marlborough
If you’re into an active day and love cycling, you should book this self-guided Marlborough Wine Tour by Bike. They include a pick-up from Blenheim & Renwick, an informative introduction to the area, recommendations on where to have lunch and a great map to use. From Renwick, you get a 24 km ride in which you find more wineries than you can visit in a day. Saddle up to try some outstanding Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and more!
Visit the farthest one first and make your way slowly back, towards the bike rental place.
Wairau River wines
The famous Wairau River Cellar Door and Restaurant is one of Marlborough’s prime wine destinations. Not only can you enjoy a delicious lunch in an outdoor seating area, but also a wine tasting to learn more about the origins and history of the place. My favourite was their Wairau River Rosé, which displayed notes of raspberry and strawberry. Their wine tasting starts at NZ $20 for four glasses.
Bladen Wines
This award-winning cellar door is another must-visit winery. The owners passionately share the history of their Bladen Wines vineyard, the outdoor seating is lovely and the views of the adjacent vineyards are so worth it. Make sure to try the Gewürztraminer! It’s unlike anything I have tried before, with outstanding notes of Turkish delight, rose petals and lychee. Wine tastings of six wines cost NZ$40.
Gibson Bridge Vineyard
Gibson Bridge Vineyard should come on your list if you want to try an array of Pinot Gris. The tasting studio used to be the old workshop. Nowadays, it’s fitted with crystal chandeliers and candles, greeting visitors to try their award-winning wines. Our favourite was the Pinot Gris Rosé. A wine tasting of five wines costs NZ $15.
Giesen WInery
The Giesen Winery is just a must-visit, especially for lunch! No real wine-tasting tour is complete without having a platter to snack (or in this case, to feast on). It’s full of local produce and, hands-down, was the best platter I had in all New Zealand! Include a wine tasting here as well; prices start at NZ $5 per tasting for four wines.
From Marlborough, make your way to Nelson Tasman for a taste of the first commercial vineyard in the South Island.
Best Hotel to Stay in Marlborough, New Zealand, South Island
Luxury: Choose The Marlborough Boutique Hotel & Vineyard for classic wine-country luxury. Set among vines, calm and refined, and a great base if you’re focusing purely on Marlborough tastings.
Mid-range: Stay at Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim for something that’s comfortable, central, and practical. You have easy access to tours, bike rentals, and restaurants without feeling basic.
Nelson Tasman
Blenheim to Nelson: 1 hour 35 minutes by car
Nelson is one of New Zealand’s sunniest regions, which gives its vineyards a unique flavor profile, especially for sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and pinot noir. Unlike Marlborough, which is bigger and more commercial, Nelson is intimate. You’ll find small, artisan producers where you can meet the winemakers and really learn about their process. Many wineries are within short drives of stunning landscapes, so tastings can be paired with a mini-adventure.
Excited to explore Nelson’s boutique vineyards? Book this traveller-loved Nelson Wine Tour and taste some of the region’s best sauvignon blanc and chardonnay with an expert guide
Getting Into Nelson
Once you have experienced the best of Marlborough, take State Highway 6 towards Nelson. I’m not gonna lie, the roads are windy and narrow but it’s the shortest way. If you are a seafood fan, you should stop in Havelock for some of their famous green lip mussels at The Musselpot.
If you’re planning to slow things down after Marlborough, base yourself around Nelson and add a few beach days in Kaiteriteri, it’s the perfect reset between wine tastings and Abel Tasman National Park.
I’ve written a full guide on where to stay in Kaiteriteri, the best things to do in Abel Tasman without rushing, which you can read here.
Best Wineries in Nelson Tasman
Unkel
As a very new winery (without a cellar door yet), which opened its cellar door in late 2020, you can enjoy a selection of their vintages complimentary. One of my favourites is the Carnival Sauvignon Blanc. If you are in Wellington, make sure to stop at Ascot Bar, as they often have them stocked! It’s the best natural wine I’ve had so far.
Moutere Hills Winery
Ok, so Moutere Hills Winery is a bit of a drive away – but super lovely and worth it! Nestled among picturesque hills, this family-owned boutique winery is the ideal place to stop for a tasting and snack on a platter outside in their garden.
Seifried Estate Winery
Another long-standing one, Seifried Estate Winery exports its wine to 28 countries and is home to New Zealand’s most awarded dessert wine, the ‘Sweet Agnes Nelson Riesling’.
Neudorf Vineyards
Located on the Moutere Hills, Neudorf wines are served in various European restaurants. They highly focus on sustainability and are a proud producer of chardonnay, pinot noir and Aromatics.
Best Hotel In Nelson, Tasman, New Zealand, South Island
Luxury: The charming Kimi Ora Eco Resort is set in the hills with views over Tasman Bay. It feels like a retreat after wine tasting, especially good if you’re combining Nelson with Abel Tasman.
Mid-range: Go for The Hotel Nelson, a reliable, well-located, and good value choice. It’s an easy base if you’re doing day trips to wineries and coastal stops.
Visiting New Zealand wineries and tasting new wines are definitely my new favourite things to do. To go on a wine-tasting tour in New Zealand is such a fun thing to do. Ready to plan your New Zealand wine adventure? Check availability for these tours and wineries online – they fill up fast! I’m sure no matter which one you decide on, it will be fantastic!
Looking for more New Zealand Itineraries and Things to See & Do?
For the best adventure, head on this 10-day itinerary around the South Island of New Zealand.
While in South Island New Zealand, visit Milford Sounds: How to Get From Queenstown to Milford Sounds
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