Whether you're a budding wine connoisseur or you simply enjoy the delicate taste of fine wine and exquisite food, it's about time you took a short trip across the ditch to a top destination that's internationally renowned for its production of superior-quality wine.
Marlborough is New Zealand's premier wine region and can lay claim to producing some of the world's most fantastic wines, including riesling, gewurztraminer, chardonnay, pinot gris and award-winning pinot noir, some in such limited stock, they are only available at cellar doors.
The Marlborough Wine Festival
There are various wine and food festivals held each year in New Zealand but one that particularly stands out is the
The Marlborough Wine Festival. This event is held each year in February at Brancott Estate, which is located just on the tip of the picturesque South Island.
The festival showcases some of the most aromatic produce from world-famous wineries, with more than 200 wines from more than 40 wineries on show. With that in mind, the opportunity for ample sampling of wines at a much cheaper price than what they would cost at retail outlets is well worth the trip.
Not only is there copious amounts of varieties to try, you have the chance to taste delicious cuisines from the Marlborough region, including, wild game, crayfish, scallops, mussels, venison, oysters, fish and smoked chicken. The enormous array of mouth-watering delicacies available at the stalls is more than likely to delight your palate.
No matter what level your wine-tasting experience may be, the festival is a perfect opportunity for you to learn the in's and out's of your favourite drop or you can refine your expertise with special wine tutorials.
The festival hosts a range of activities, including food and wine matching, fashions on the field competitions and fantastic musical entertainment provided by some of New Zealand's finest performers. Surrounded by a stunning backdrop of mountainous ranges, sunny skies and a friendly atmosphere, you can kick back and relax in the grass with a glass of New Zealand's best and truly feel a thousand kilometres away from the daily grind.
Marlborough Sounds
This New Zealand region isn't only known for its fantastic produce. So if you're planning a weekend away, there are plenty of activities on offer, including kayaking at
Marlborough Sounds in the beautiful Ngakuta Bay and if you're up to it a hike along the
Queen Charlotte Track, which takes you right into the heart of the remote wilderness area. The guides here are extremely friendly and can cater for any fitness level.
Birds eye view of the Marlborough Wine Festival.
Blenheim
Blenheim is a 25-minute drive from the wine and food festival and is the biggest town in Marlborough. There are some exquisite restaurants in the area which are well worth a visit if you're planning to stay a few days.
Allan Scott is a producer of some of the finest wines in Marlborough and the winery restaurant,
Twelve Trees, is one of the most popular in Blenheim. The restaurant is known for its appetising seasonal menu, featuring fresh local cuisine in combination with a selection of Scott's famous wines.
Vineyards surround the town of Blenheim and, being the heartland of sauvignon blanc, a visit to the Cloudy Bay winery is a major tick in the box, especially if you're an aspiring oenophile, or wine connoisseur. Cloudy Bay has a beautiful indoors and outdoors setting, which features delicious catered taste-plates along with its wine tasting.
Classic New Zealand Wine Trail
If you want to delve into the wine tasting a little deeper and have more than a few days available, then the
Classic New Zealand Wine Trail is probably more your thing. The trail is a self-driving experience, where you follow sign posts through to five of New Zealand's most scenic regions.
Along the journey, you'll have the opportunity to visit wineries, historic villages, special food producers, brewery tours and even forest hikes. The trail includes three major wine-growing areas, but you can choose how long and how far you want to go. The full route takes you all the way from Napier in the North Island to Blenheim in the South Island. This includes a three-hour ferry ride from cosmopolitan Wellington. The city is home to a stunning harbour and is known for its delectable food and abundance of cafes, restaurants, bars, art galleries and friendly locals.
Your say: Have you ever been wine tasting in New Zealand? What was your experience and would you recommend it? Please leave your comments below.
