ADVENTURES IN NEW ZEALAND

A New Zealand Wine Tasting Sampler

PART 2—

SOUTH ISLAND:

1. MARLBOROUGH: After only 30 years of production Marlborough—centered around Blenheim in the NE corner of the South Island—is New Zealand’s largest wine region. Its initial success can be summed up in two words, Sauvignon Blanc. Today its success is, like its world-class wines, a bit complex, with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling also being planted in abundance. Marlborough is only about 60 miles east of Home at First lodgings in Nelson. If you wish to visit one winery only, stop at Villa Maria’s modern winery, west of Blenheim on New Renwick Road (south of Rt. 6). Villa Maria wines have been recent major prize winners in New Zealand competitions. Like Hawke’s Bay on the North Island, Marlborough has an established wine trail, concentrated around the small city of Blenheim. Download or print a Marlborough wine trail map before your go.

2. NELSON: Another relatively small region known for quality wines and stylish, boutique wineries, Nelson offers excellent opportunities for wine-tasting with personal attention to the visitor’s interests. Most wineries are west of the city toward the famous Abel Tasman National Park along the NW coast of the South Island. Home at First lodgings in Nelson are within easy reach of a couple of dozen wineries, some offering gourmet meals as well as a chance to sample and buy.

  Photo copyright © Bob Ecker - used with permission.

        Varietals in this region follow the usual South Island litany: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. When in Nelson, if you have the time for only one winery, visit the family-run Moutere Hills Winery, which offers tastings, sales, and a café with delicious lunches in a very attractive setting on Eggers Road, Sunrise Valley, south of Highway 60, about 40 minutes west of Nelson. Open 11AM-6PM daily, mid-October through Easter.

3. CANTERBURY: Comprising two principal sub-regions, in the flood plains around Christchurch and about an hour north of the city, the Canterbury region is a sizeable one within easy reach of Home at First’s Christchurch lodgings. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the two primary grapes of Canterbury. It’s a short (30 minutes) trip north to the St. Helena Wine Estate—Canterbury’s oldest—on Coutts Island Road just north of Belfast off Route 1 direction Waipara. Not only will you have a short drive, but you will be able to sample one of New Zealand’s top-rated Pinot Noirs. Open 10AM-4:30PM daily for tastings & sales.

4. CENTRAL OTAGO: A very different region from others in NZ, Central Otago is high, dry, and closer to Antarctica than any other wine region in the world. It is also expanding rapidly—slaking a sophisticated local thirst and looking to export wine—especially Pinot Noir—in significant quantities. There are now several dozen wineries—most boutique operations—in the Central Otago region within easy visiting distance of Home at First lodgings in the Queenstown area. Of these, one that makes a very enjoyable half-day out is less than one-half hour east of Queenstown on Highway 6 at Gibbston. Gibbston Valley Winery offers a 30-minute tour of their operations—including their deep underground caves where a tasting occurs—daily from 10AM-5PM. Gibbston Valley Winery operates its own quality restaurant—open daily 12N to 3PM—a gift shop and a cheesery. Best of all, it sells its wine, including its 2000 Pinot Noir Reserve, judged best Pinot Noir in the World at the London International Wine Challenge.

Photo copyright © Bob Ecker - used with permission.

You can visit wineries throughout NEW ZEALAND as part of your own independent, custom-designed Home at First travel itinerary.

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