Wine Travel in New Zealand’s South Island: Marlborough

Marlborough

Marlborough sits at the top of New Zealand’s South Island and is the country’s largest and most influential wine region, responsible for around two‑thirds of national plantings and the global rise of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Its success stems from a rare combination of high sunshine hours, cool maritime nights, low rainfall, and free‑draining glacial gravel soils that preserve acidity while building intense, vivid flavour.

Commercial plantings began only in the 1970s, yet by the 1980s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc had captured international attention for its purity, aromatic lift, and unmistakable style, eventually displacing France as the global leader in wines of this classical grape variety. But the region is far more than its flagship variety: Marlborough now produces world‑class aromatics, increasingly refined Pinot Noir, and a growing portfolio of Chardonnay and sparkling wines that highlight the diversity of its sub‑regions and winemaking talent.

Today the region continues to evolve through its distinct sub‑regions: Wairau, Awatere and Southern Valleys, each expressing its own meso‑climate, soil profile, and stylistic signature.

Snip of the Appellation Wine Map of Marlborough

In such a large and dynamic region with so many excellent producers, the necessary selection for blog purposes is a little invidious and you will certainly find wonderful wines and excellent cellar door experiences elsewhere. But here are some that I know and love. Allow three days to do the region justice.

First up, if you are driving from Picton to Blenheim which is the heart of the Wairau district and greater Marlborough region, in just ten minutes you will come to Johanneshof Cellars. Whilst Johanneshof do produce a Sauvignon Blanc, the reason to stop is to taste the exceptional aromatic varieties and particularly the Gewurztraminer, a superclassic NZ wines since 2010 and winner of the Decanter International Trophy for Best Aromatic White Wine in the World in 2005. The underground cellars are also special. Summer opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm, but in or out of hours, bookings are essential, email wines@johanneshof.co.nz.  

The Wairau Valley is Marlborough’s largest and most established sub‑region, with vineyards surrounding the town of Blenheim and stretching west along the Wairau River toward Renwick and beyond. It sits on a broad alluvial plain framed by the Richmond Range to the north and the Wither Hills to the south, creating a sheltered, sun‑soaked basin.

Soils are predominantly old, gravelly riverbed soils with pockets of clay, loam, and silt. These free‑draining alluvial deposits vary across the valley, creating multiple meso‑climates and stylistic zones. The region is one New Zealand’s sunniest and driest with a strong maritime influence, long warm days, and cool nights. Sea breezes moderate the eastern/coastal end, while inland sites are warmer and earlier‑ripening. The topography is mostly flat with subtle shifts in aspect and soil depth that meaningfully influence ripeness, aromatics, and texture

🍇 Wine Styles

• Sauvignon Blanc: Intensely aromatic, ripe, and fruit‑forward—often showing passionfruit, tropicals, capsicum and generous mid‑palate weight. This is the classic “Marlborough style” most people know.
• Pinot Noir: Plush, dark‑cherry fruit with soft tannins and good concentration; warmer sites give more depth and richness.
• Aromatics (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer): Pure, vibrant, and expressive, benefiting from the valley’s sunshine and diurnal shift.
• Chardonnay & Sparkling: Increasingly refined, with citrus‑stone fruit profiles and bright acidity.

A visit to Cloudy Bay is a must, offering relaxed elegant tastings with knowledgeable staff at one of New Zealand’s most internationally recognized wineries with over 30 years of global acclaim for quality. Taste the benchmark Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, the contrasting styled Te Koko SB and then take a look at the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The cellar door is open seven days 10am to 5pm and there is also an excellent Japanese restaurant where you can enjoy lunch, or on limited summer days also dinner. Book!

Cloudy Bay Cellar Door

Not far apart (although unless you are a keen cyclist you will need to drive so either have a sober driver or be prepared to spit!) are two iconic estates in Renwick you must visit for the same reason – some of NZ’s best sparkling. First up, Nautilus Estate, known for precise, elegant and consistent Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Methode Traditionelle, the latter one of NZ’s best. Book by email sales@nautilusestate.com. Just down the road, No 1 Family Estate where owner and winemaker 12^th generation vigneron from Champagne makes world class wines in the Champagne tradition. Open 10am to 4.30pm daily, walks in are welcomed but booking is better, email cellardoor@no1wine.nz.

Quite close by are Allan Scott Family Winemakers. Allan was one of the first to plant vines in the Wairau Valley in the early 1970s and today the estate is highly regarded for bright expressive Sauvignon Blanc and refined aromatics that give true expression to the terroir of the Wairau Valley. The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc was described thus by Wine Spectator: “This leaps out of the glass, with expressive, intense fruit flavours of silky-smooth lemon meringue, mango, tangerine and fresh-cut apple. Candied ginger and green tea notes join a detail of salted lime before lingering on the mouthwatering finish”. You can try any of their wines at the cellar door open 7 days 10am to 4pm and they also have a bistro open for lunch, inquire at bistro@allanscott.co.nz

Forrest is a must visit. Founded by John & Brigid Forrest who combine deep Marlborough roots with high level careers in scientific research and medicine, the Forrests including their daughter Beth, now GM and winemaker, are known not only for an outstanding range of meticulously crafted wines but also for their innovation, particularly in low alcohol wines and screw cap technology.  My last tasting visit as an ordinary tourist was relaxed, informative and generous with a very wide range of interesting varietals alongside the ubiquitous Sauvignon Blanc. I particularly enjoyed the Chenin Blanc, Albarino, Gruner Veltliner and Petit Manseng among the whites and among the Reds, the Lagrein and Reserve Syrah. Bookings required for larger groups: cellardoor@forrest.co.nz, open 7 days 10am to 4.30pm.

My wife thoroughly enjoyed her generous tasting at Forrest

Framingham is one of the Wairau Valley’s most distinctive producers, best known for its expressive, small‑batch wines and a deep commitment to aromatic varieties. Their Rieslings in particular have earned a cult following, showcasing layers of texture, purity, and age‑worthy complexity that set them apart in Marlborough. If you love Riesling, count this as your number one stop, if you’re not sure if you like Riesling, Framingham has one you will love! Open 7 days from 10.30am to 4pm, make your booking here.

Further expand your views of Marlborough wines with a visit to Hans Herzog Estate. Hans Herzog is a Swiss‑born winemaker who brought Old World precision and a deep love of rare European varieties to the Wairau Valley, establishing one of New Zealand’s most artisanal and uncompromising estates. His organically farmed, low‑yield vineyards produce an extraordinary range of varieties — from Zweigelt and Nebbiolo to Arneis, Gruner Veltliner, and Montepulciano — making Herzog one of the country’s most distinctive and adventurous producers. Bookings are essential and I highly recommend the private tailored tour and tasting (minimum two people)

Rock Ferry is a small, organically certified family estate with a cellar door on Hammerichs Road that feels more like a garden retreat than a tasting room — an ideal backdrop for their thoughtful, terroir‑driven wines. The range spans classic Marlborough styles alongside more adventurous bottlings such as Pinot Blanc, Blanc de Blancs, and single‑vineyard Pinot Noir, all made with a quiet, artisanal touch. Cellar door hours vary, and usually it’s closed over the winter months so it’s always best to email for information and an appointment.

The author contemplating Rock Ferry’s exemplary Pinot Blanc

 in the cellar door garden

The Awatere Valley lies south of the Wairau Valley, stretching inland from the coast toward the Kaikōura Ranges. It is Marlborough’s most geographically distinct sub‑region, more remote, more rugged, and noticeably cooler than the Blenheim‑centred Wairau basin. The climate is cooler, drier, and significantly windier than Wairau, with a longer growing season and naturally lower yields. Soils are a mix of greywacke, loess, and alluvial deposits, often shallower and more mineral‑driven than the classic Wairau gravels.  Vineyards sit on river terraces and rolling foothills, influenced by both the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikōura mountain range, giving a strong diurnal shift and excellent natural acidity.

🍇 Wine Styles

• Sauvignon Blanc: Dramatic, distinctive, and more herbal, saline, and mineral than Wairau—often showing tomato leaf, jalapeño, lime, and a taut, chiselled structure.
• Pinot Noir: Bright, aromatic, and finely structured, with red fruit, spice, and a cooler‑climate edge.
• Aromatics (Riesling, Pinot Gris): Highly expressive, with lifted aromatics and precise acidity thanks to the valley’s cool nights and long ripening window.
• Chardonnay: Leaner, more mineral, and often more citrus‑driven than Wairau examples.

Yealands is one of the larger Marlborough wine operations situated on one of the most dramatic and exciting Marlborough vineyard landscapes on the Seaview Peninsula, perched above rolling hills with sweeping views across the Pacific Ocean. It’s just over 30 minutes’ drive from Blenheim heading south to Seddon and then turning left towards the coast. Worth the trip just for the views and the cellar door architecture but if these were lacking the wines should still feature highly on your list to explore: with brightness, purity and a distinctive saline edge, the top Sauvignon Blancs are regular award winners. But don’t neglect to try the Albarino and Rose. You can book a simple tasting but I recommend the Immersive Experience.

The impressive Yealands winery and cellar door complex.

Tohu is Aotearoa’s first Māori‑owned wine company, founded to express both the land and the values of its people, with a deep commitment to kaitiakitanga (guardianship) guiding every decision. Their Awatere Valley wines are shaped by this ethos — sustainably farmed, vibrant, and pure — offering a distinctive coastal expression that reflects both place and whakapapa. The wines achieve consistently positive international ratings from tough critic Jancis Robinson who describes the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc as "Good Value", having "drive and intensity". The most convenient way to taste the wines is at HOME - Wine + Food, Experience Marlborough in Blenheim. With its moderate scale and remote winery location, Tohu is not set up for large numbers of “cellar door” visitors. However, for the enthusiast keen to engage personally with one of NZ’s foremost proponents of wine production integrated with Māori values, and perhaps looking to combine with a visit to Yealands in the same day, try emailing Dan, or call on 0800 864 894. They will do their best to accommodate you.

Vavasour is the founding winery of the Awatere Valley, established in 1989 when the region was still considered too wild and marginal for fine wine. Their estate bottlings capture the valley’s signature tension — cool, wind‑shaped fruit, bright acidity, and a mineral edge — making Vavasour one of Marlborough’s most consistent and region‑defining producers. Vavasour is best known for its benchmark Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc — a serious, concentrated style with bright citrus, fresh herbs, and the valley’s signature minerality — but the estate also excels with cool‑climate Pinot Noir, elegant Chardonnay, richly textured Pinot Gris, and vibrant Riesling. Sadly, since its acquisition by American billionaire Bill Foley, the cellar door has gone the same way as that for Martinborough vineyard. But do look for opportunity to try any of their wines when dining in Blenheim.

The Southern Valleys sit along the inland foothills of the Wither and Richmond Ranges, a series of north‑facing side valleys (Brancott, Omaka, Fairhall, Ben Morven, and Waihopai) that form Marlborough’s most structurally expressive subregion. The climate is slightly cooler and drier than the central Wairau, with stronger diurnal shifts that slow ripening and build concentration, while the sheltered valley floors and slopes protect vines from the harsher winds that shape the Awatere. What truly defines the Southern Valleys, though, are the deep clay loams layered over glacial gravels — older, denser, and more water‑retentive than the free‑draining soils of the Wairau. These clays give the wines their hallmark weight, tannin, and savoury complexity, making the subregion Marlborough’s natural home for serious Pinot Noir and finely textured Chardonnay. It’s a landscape that rewards patience and precision, reflected in the work of producers like Dog Point, Fromm, and Greywacke.

🍇 Wine Styles

• Pinot Noir is the flagship, with deeper colour, firmer tannin, and more savoury complexity than Wairau or Awatere; clay soils give weight, structure, and age‑worthiness.

• Chardonnay is finely textured and mineral, often showing citrus, white‑stone fruit, subtle flint, and beautifully integrated oak — some of Marlborough’s most Burgundian expressions.
• Sauvignon Blanc tends to be more restrained and textural, often incorporating wild ferment, barrel work, and a quieter aromatic profile; less overt fruit, more depth and longevity.
• Pinot Gris and Riesling show extra mid‑palate weight, with a gentle richness supported by the region’s natural acidity.

Dog Point is one of Marlborough’s most influential estates, founded by two former Cloudy Bay pioneers who helped define the region’s modern style. Their wines combine organic farming, low‑intervention winemaking, and a Southern Valleys backbone of clay‑driven structure — producing some of New Zealand’s most textural Sauvignon Blancs and age‑worthy Chardonnays and Pinots.

Dog Point offer an integrated tour and tasting experience from Monday to Friday at 11am which must be booked well in advance (January 2026 is already fully booked). All is not lost if you can’t get a booking, make an appointment at The Wine Shed in Blenheim and you can taste the wines there, as well as those of other excellent producers I have not included in this blog.

Fromm brings a European sensibility to the Southern Valleys, crafting wines that emphasise texture, savoury detail, and vineyard expression over overt fruit. Their Pinot Noirs, Syrah, and single‑vineyard bottlings are among Marlborough’s most characterful, shaped by deep clay soils and a philosophy rooted in balance and authenticity. You can book a table at their cellar door for tasting here but I highly recommend the private wine tasting of current vintages combined with a vineyard and cellar tour.

Wild flowers grow between the Fromm vines to encourage beneficial insects

Greywacke is the personal project of Kevin Judd, founding winemaker of Cloudy Bay, whose intuitive, photographically precise approach to winemaking captures the Southern Valleys’ subtlety and depth. Known for its wild‑ferment Sauvignon Blancs, refined Chardonnay, and perfumed Pinot Noir, Greywacke produces wines of quiet power and impeccable detail. It’s possible to book a tasting at the cellar door by personal appointment , but again, your fallback position is an appointment at the Wine Shed in Blenheim where Greywacke wines are also available.

Spy Valley is a long‑established family estate in the remote Waihopai Valley, one of the most distinctive of the Southern Valleys, where dry hillsides, cool nights, and long sunshine hours shape wines with purity and drive. Their cellar door looks out across the rugged valley floor toward the surrounding ranges — a striking setting that reflects the character of their expressive Sauvignon Blanc, finely structured Pinot Noir, and quietly adventurous aromatics. I particularly enjoyed the Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer on my last visit. Both the cellar door building and the outlook are stunning. Book a wine tasting and platter by email Monday to Saturday.