Wine Tasting In New Zealand: 8 Best New Zealand Wine Regions
If you want to do some wine tasting on your visit to New Zealand, this is the guide you need! New Zealand is one of the world’s finest producers of wines, however the vast majority of exported wine comes from just one region – Marlborough.
There are several other regions that people outside of New Zealand may never have heard of that also make incredible wines on smaller scales.
This guide will tell you about some of the other wine regions in New Zealand, and the best places for you to discover local wines when you arrive.
So, here is a list of New Zealand’s wine regions, and what each one is known for. Now you can plan your very own New Zealand wine tour!
New Zealand’s Wine Regions
Marlborough – The Most Famous New Zealand Wine Region
If you live outside of New Zealand or Australia and pick up a bottle of New Zealand wine at the supermarket, chances are it will be a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough.
This is the home of many of the country’s most widely known brands – Cloudy Bay, Brancott and Oyster Bay all have bases in the Marlborough region.
Most of the wines made in this are Sauvignon Blanc, but you can also find other white wines such as Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.
Marlborough sits at the northeastern tip of the South Island, and the best place to visit for wine is Blenheim.
This town is surrounded by several wineries and there are several tour operators that will collect you from your Blenheim accommodation and drive you around Marlborough for a full day tour of beautiful scenery and excellent wine.
Marlborough is home to some of the most popular New Zealand wine tours, and for good reason. It’s one of the best places to go wine tasting in New Zealand as it has lots of options to choose from. It’s also an ideal place to start a road trip around the South Island.
✅ Book a full day wine tasting tour from Blenheim here.
Central Otago
Central Otago is located towards the south end of the South Island. It is an absolutely stunning area to visit, surrounded by the Southern Alps mountain range and with many rivers and lakes throughout the area.
It is also the region in which Queenstown is located, one of the most important tourist destinations in New Zealand and particularly famous for adrenaline activities such as skydiving and bunjy jumping.
For oenophiles, Central Otago is also a busy area for winemaking and the southernmost commercial wine region in the world.
The cooler climate produces especially good Pinot Noirs, but several white varieties including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are also produced here.
Gibbston is a particularly good place to go wine tasting. Gibbston Valley Winery itself has an excellent restaurant as well as a Cellar Door wine-tasting room.
The winery even has luxury accommodation onsite – one of the options I recommend for the best places to stay in Queenstown!
Other notable wineries around Gibbston include Peregrine Wines and Chard Farm. Other important wine areas in Central Otago include Bannockburn, Wanaka and Cromwell.
Queenstown is an excellent place to use as a base for winetasting and there are several excellent New Zealand wine tasting tours that will take you around the region.
✅ Check out this full day Queenstown wine-tasting tour
Another option for wine tasting in Queenstown is The Winery, a venue in the centre of Queenstown that uses machines to dispense tasting portions of around 80 different wines.
Auckland
Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand and is situated towards the north of the North Island.
The most famous place for wine in the Auckland region is probably Waiheke Island. You can take a ferry from Auckland Harbour across to the island, and either join an island wine tour or hire some bikes to get around.
✅ Book your Waiheke Island wine tour here!
Wineries on the island tend to operate in a more boutique style as there are quite a few of them in a relatively small area, and they tend to focus on red blends.
Two significant Waiheke Island wineries are Man O War, with its onsite restaurant, and Mudbrick which even has cottages you can stay in. Take a look at my guide to Waiheke Island wine tasting for more information.
The wider Auckland region also has a few winemakers, including Kumeu River Winery to the northwest of Auckland city centre and several wineries in Makatana, about an hour north of Auckland.
Hawke’s Bay
Although Hawke’s Bay isn’t widely known outside of New Zealand, it is home to the oldest vineyard in the country – Mission Estate Winery.
As well as Mission Estate, other significant wineries in the area include Craggy Range, Clearview Estate and Te Mata Estate.
Hawke’s Bay is on the east coast of the North Island and includes the cities of Hastings and Napier.
Local wineries primarily produce Bordeaux-style red blends, Syrah and Chardonnay. Napier is a perfect place to use as a base for wine tasting in Hawke’s Bay.
The city is known for its Art Deco architecture as many buildings were rebuilt following an earthquake in the area in 1931 during the height of Art Deco popularity.
For more information, you can also check out my guide on the best things to do in Napier.
There are several wine-tasting tours you can join from Napier to help you explore New Zealand’s second-largest wine region.
✅ Book your wine tour from Napier here.
Martinborough
Martinborough lies to the east of Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, at the southern end of the North Island.
The region is a relatively small producer compared to Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and Central Otago and so is often overlooked.
Just over half of the wine produced in Martinborough is Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc is the second most commonly produced wine in the area. Wine tours are available both from Wellington and the town of Martinborough.
If you are in Wellington for a few days and want to see the wider region then a wine-tasting tour of Martinborough is worth considering.
Northland
As you might expect, Northland is at the northern tip of the North Island. Most tourists don’t make it to this area.
The majority of visitors start their New Zealand itinerary by flying into Auckland and then making their way south. Northland is home to some locations of particular importance to the Maori people, such as Waitangi and Cape Reinga.
In terms of wine, there are several areas around Northland with excellent wineries. Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Gris are the primary wines produced in this region.
The climate in Northland is much warmer than areas such as Central Otago and so produces wines that are quite distinct from those in the southern regions of New Zealand.
The Bay of Islands is perhaps the best place to visit in the Northland region, thanks to its beautiful scenery, water activities, dolphin watching and of course several wineries nearby. Kainui Road and Marsden Estate are both popular vineyards near the Bay of Islands.
Gisborne
Gisborne sits north of Hawke’s Bay on the east coast of the North Island. It’s an area that many visitors skip, but for wine enthusiasts, this small region may be worth a visit.
Like many areas in New Zealand it produces a lot of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, but unusually it is also known for Gewürztraminer.
Nelson
Nelson sits very close to Marlborough at the north-west tip of the South Island, but is a separate district.
Some wine tours in Nelson include wineries in Marlborough, but there enough wineries for Nelson to stand alone. Neudorf Vineyards, Moutere Hills and Rimu Grove are all excellent choices.
Most of the wine produced in the area is Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Nelson is also popular for outdoor activities and Abel Tasman National Park.
Final Thoughts: New Zealand’s Wine Regions
New Zealand is a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts. The country may only produce about 1% of the world’s wine, but with its diverse climates and fertile soils New Zealand makes some of the world’s finest wines.
Whether you’re a seasoned wine connoisseur or a curious beginner, there’s something for everyone in New Zealand’s wine scene.
So, pack your bags, grab a glass and embark on a journey of discovery as you sample some of the best wines that New Zealand has to offer!
For your next stage of planning, you might find this comparison of the North Island vs South Island helpful. Take a look at this 14 day New Zealand itinerary around both islands, or this South Island road trip route.
FAQs
What Is The Legal Drinking Age in New Zealand?
You must be 18 years or over to purchase alcohol.
What Is The Drink Driving Limit In New Zealand?
For drivers under the age of 20, there is a zero limit. For those 20 and over the limit is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, or 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
If you are planning to go wine tasting the safest option is to join a tour. For more information visit the New Zealand Transport Agency website.
Can I Join A Wine Tasting Tour Alone?
Most wine tasting New Zealand tours are group activities that solo travellers are welcome to join. If you are travelling alone, a winetasting day tour is a wonderful chance to get to know people with a similar interest.
What If I Don’t Know Anything About Wine?
That’s ok! I have done several wine tours in New Zealand and they have all been relaxed, friendly, judgement-free experiences. Don’t be put off, this is all about learning what you like.
📌 Looking for more New Zealand inspiration? Check out my full collection of NZ travel posts.
Other Posts You Might Like
For more ideas as you build your New Zealand itinerary, check out my North Island and South Island travel hubs.
Ultimate Picton to Queenstown Road Trip
Best Day Trips from Queenstown
Christchurch to Auckland Road Trip
Best Places To Visit In The North Island
Best Places To Visit In The South Island
North Island vs South Island: Which Is Best For You
