A toast to New Zealand’s Wine Tourism

Jane Wilson

Sitting, waiting, chilled and tempting… a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. I take my first sip and my mind is instantly transported back to the vines growing in neat parallel rows, splinters of sunlight filtering through the green haze, waltzing and twirling in-between. I’m back in the heart of New Zealand’s wine country.

Marlborough is a wine destination, a must-see place for wine lovers. In this region, there are more than 30 cellar doors to visit, each different and brimming with flavours to savour. They are all within a ten-minute drive from each other. Blenheim Airport is nearby and minutes after touching down, you can soon find yourself tasting award-winning wines. The cellar doors await with glasses grouped together and bottles lined up ready for sharing and sampling. A Chardonnay rubbing shoulders with a Pinot Gris, a Sauvignon to its right and a Pinot Noir keeping its distance. With each sip details flow from exuberant winemakers. And as glasses are delicately refilled, their unique character is explained with passion, knowledge and experience. The vocabulary colourful and descriptive – zingy acidity, elegant, bright, effusive, adding personality to each variety.

One of the most pleasurable occasions during my travels was a relaxed lunch in the restaurant belonging to Bancroft Estate. As I indulged in organic dishes from a creative menu, I was treated with views you often see on advertising billboards. I was enfolded by an expansive carpet of bottle green stretching far into the distance to touch the horizon. It looked like a blanket made of green corduroy, its weave in one direction for the perfect effect of one shade. An orderly maze, a perfectionist’s dream, all neat, symmetrical and disciplined save for the birds floating above. I remember the stillness, the serenity and the peace. Another time I visited the Cloudy Bay winery. Here it was a tasting in a garden party setting complete with plush white seats, swings and squashy loungers, a haven in white. Cloudy Bay was one of the first five wineries in Marlborough.

If you don’t fancy driving between tastings, there are many organised wine tours to various wineries. For those more athletic, pedalling by bike will work up a thirst and appetite.

It was in the 1980s when Marlborough put New Zealand on the international wine stage with its Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, over 20,000ha of vines (around 2/3 of the national total) are under the care of local wine producers. It’s the equation of low rainfall and free-draining, moderately fertile soil and its cool yet high sunshine climate that results in its successful and popular wines.

This was my first visit to the other side of the world. My itinerary was packed to the brim. I flew into Queenstown on the South Island. The town sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu surrounded by the Southern Alps and the Remarkables, a saw-toothed range of mountains. It’s a place full of outdoor adventurers, understandably, as it was here that the first commercial Bungy operation started in 1988 at the historic Kawarau Bridge.

New Zealand has a history of gold mining and Arrowtown is a shining example with a quaint main street dotted with European and Chinese styled buildings from the old pioneering days. Just under 20 km from Queenstown, the town was built on the banks of the Arrow River where gold was found in 1862.

As I take another sip, I think back to horse trekking in this area one early morning. Time rested while New Zealand’s landscape exhaled a calmness as I gazed onto uninterrupted scenery as far as my eyes could see, to the front, back and each side. Utter stillness, except for the thud of hooves from a rather slow horse carrying me across open fields, plodding up a steep mountainside then splashing through clear rippling streams.

By my third sip, I have removed my tourist status and joined the fun of a local rural agricultural show in Wanaka. Sheep shearing, woodcarving, chainsaw sculptures, you name it – it was all taking place. There was a grand parade, a Pipe Band, equestrian show and livestock proudly wearing brightly coloured winning ribbons. Oh, and a Jack Russell Race which I watched with amusement amidst a display of the latest farm equipment, luxury cars, surrounded by the friendliest of people.

From glaciers to lakes, hiking and cruising the Marlborough Sounds this country has much to offer visitors but the Marlborough wine region has always been the wine destination I had been yearning to visit. It is New Zealand’s largest winegrowing region and suitably paired with the scenery of stunning landscapes with its valleys of vines leading to sheltered waters and open stretches of rolling countryside.

So, I raise my glass to toast this country, its wine tourism and in particular to its very own Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Cheers!

For more information on visiting Marlborough, see www.marlboroughnz.com.

73573

Share Article:

Jane Wilson

Founder & editor of the Wellness Traveller

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or embarking on your first cruise, Ambassador Cruise Line is committed to providing stress-free, authentic…
This is not a leisurely cruise – it’s an expedition for adventurers. Anyone wanting to relax all day is on…
Carole Tidball and her husband enjoy a pre-cruise tour of the eternal city….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.