PHOTO: © WAIRAU RIVER

After journeying for an entire day, there’s nothing quite as welcoming as a glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s wine country. Marlborough, home to more than 150 wineries and located on the northern tip of the country’s South Island, proves the idyllic first stop for any trip to New Zealand. Upon landing, you’re smack-dab in the middle of the seemingly never- ending vineyards, where the only appropriate thing to do is hole up at a winery and relax.

Many varietals grow in the region, most notably Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and, of course, Sauvignon Blanc — its star pupil. The signature dry minerality of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is what put the country’s wines on the map. And sorry to break it to you, but a trip through Marlborough will ruin Sauvignon Blancs from anywhere else for you for the rest of your life (no shade, California).

PHOTO: © WAIRAU RIVER

Numerous tour companies are more than happy to shuttle you from place to place, as the area offers more than 30 cellar doors and tasting rooms for you to explore. Wairau River Winery is a picturesque place to go for happy hour or dinner. Here you can order wine-tasting flights and pair your sips with nibbles from the winery’s restaurant, Number 11. Stay to enjoy the sun setting over the vines.

Don’t miss Spy Valley Winery, a highly acclaimed and award-winning producer. While the winery doesn’t employ actual spies, it did get its name from a spy base located nearby. Who doesn’t love a wine that comes with a little bit of mystery?

PHOTO: © JESSICA JONE/ ALLAN SCOTT BISTRO

Another great winery serving equally mouthwatering food, Allan Scott Winery makes a lovely lunch option. Hit the rustic and inviting bistro on site after tasting through all of the wines at the cellar door. There are countless standout wineries in the area — you can grab a map of the wine trail and attempt to hit them all on a tour, or even rent a bike to take in the views between visits.

While Marlborough is certainly all about the wine, you’d be remiss not to break up all the tastings with some added local color. Marlborough Museum, for example, houses multiple archaeology collections and shares the history of the region as well as the history of the Māori. Oenophiles will be happy to learn about The Wine Exhibition here, which serves as a great first stop before heading out on wine tastings.

The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre houses the world’s largest private collections of World War I aircraft and artifacts, as well as relics from World War II. You can easily fit in a visit to view the awe-inspiring displays between wineries.

Nearby you’ll also find Makana Confections — part chocolate factory, part candy shop. Made to resemble a winery’s cellar door, you can see right inside to how the chocolates are made, indulge in samples and, naturally, buy some treats to take home (or to your next winery visit). After all, there’s no better pairing than wine and chocolate.

When all is said and done, you’re going to need one last meal to remember your stay, and that should be at Arbour. The menu changes daily, so don’t expect to find a menu online. Instead, you’ll enjoy whatever the chef happens to be cooking that evening, and I recommend pairing each dish with some of the area’s most decadent wines. Keep the spirit of wine country going by posting up at the luxury villas at Vintners Retreat, and you’re sure to have a deep sleep and dreams of grapes.

INFO TO GO
Travelers can fly directly to Marlborough Airport via Air New Zealand or Sounds Air. The beauty of arriving by plane is the airport sits in the middle of wine country, with vineyards as close as five minutes from the airport. If you are already in the country, you can also opt to arrive by the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry, which journeys from Wellington to Picton (roughly 45 minutes from Marlborough) and takes around 3.5 hours.