What’s your idea of paradise? Good friends, good times, venerable views and untouched beauty from horizon to horizon? Great food, better wines and everything at your fingertips? New Zealand wine country is considered the tour de force of viticulture in the Southern Hemisphere and you’ll soon see why.
Although words aren’t enough to experience the delectable routes your palette will take during a New Zealand wine tour, they serve as an excellent starting point. Before we launch into the where’s and the why, ask yourself, when was the last time you did something for you? You deserve to sample New Zealand in its full-bodied, fantastic glory.
Here’s a three stop plan to get you started…
Stop 1: Marlborough
Ideal for side adventures, the Marlborough region near Wellington on the North Island is the perfect first entry for any wine adventure. Littered with tasty cafès, delicious restaurants and cute coffee shops, your stomach will want for nothing between visits to 30 cellar doors and 120 wineries.
- MANA cellar doors
- Methode Marlborough Wineries
- Cloudy Bay Winery
Did you know?
Marlborough is one of New Zealand’s sunniest regions, packing the same dry punch as parts of Australia. Luckily, the surrounding topography protects it from damaging elements, leading to the perfect storm for vinicultural development.
Stop 2: Waiheke Island
Escape to the warmer climate and clear airs of Waiheke Island. Waiheke has become renowned for its international award-winning wines and its Easter Jazz Festival, which attracts musicians and followers from all over the world. The Island boasts a number of excellent cafés and restaurants. The Island hosts two excellent wineries, both of which have been featured in Time Magazine:
- Stonyridge Vineyard
- Mudbrick Vineyard
Stop 3: Kumeu
The wineries of Kumeu date back to the 1930s when wine families of Croatian origin established wine-making in the area. These families are still living and working in the area today, making some of New Zealand’s most renowned wines. The vineyards in this region are in contrast with the spectacular coastal scenery of the area. Kumeu is also one of those special places where you have a chance to see one of the world’s largest seabirds in their natural environment. With a mainland gannet nesting site situated on the cliff-tops overlooking the Tasman Sea, you can get a close-up of their behaviour without disturbing their environment. Wineries in the region you must visit:
- Soljans Vineyard
- Matua Valley Wines
- West Brook Winery
Did you know?
Kumeu’s views extend for miles along the wild, black, iron sand beach of Muriwai.
Life is too short to drink bad wine. Don’t wait until next month or next year to pursue the pleasures the New Zealand wine scene has to offer… you won’t regret going. It’s time to enjoy yourself. Come and have a glass in New Zealand!