New Zealand is a country that offers so much to its visitors. Beautiful scenery, rich culture, friendly faces, a bit of adventure and on top of all this – some world class wineries.

The country’s cool maritime climate, sheltered valleys and alluvial soils create conditions in which some classic varietals flourish. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Syrah all have a strong presence in New Zealand for which we’re known the world over.

As a result, New Zealand is increasingly becoming a destination for sommeliers, connoisseurs and everyday wine lovers to visit some fantastic wine regions and wineries.

This guide on wineries in New Zealand is written to help you discover and explore the very best of what we have to offer along with a few other tips to help you along the way.

Best Wine Regions in New Zealand

Great vines make great wines, but great vines are very particular, requiring the right conditions before bearing fruit.

Thankfully New Zealand has some of the best places in the world to grow wine and that’s why we have so many wine regions. If you are serious about your wine, we recommend adding any of the three big wine regions to your itinerary:

  • Hawke's Bay

    Hawke's Bay

    On the east coast of the North Island, you’ll find one of sunniest spots in New Zealand and the oldest and second largest producing region of wine in the country. Missionaries in the mid-19th century were responsible for first identifying

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    On the east coast of the North Island, you’ll find one of sunniest spots in New Zealand and the oldest and second largest producing region of wine in the country.

    Missionaries in the mid-19th century were responsible for first identifying the potential for wine in the region, planting the first vines and it has never looked back since. Its climate, with long hot summers and cool winters is similar to Bordeaux which is partly why full-bodied red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah have been so successful.

    There are now 70+ wineries in the region including Brookfields, Church Road, Craggy Range and more, most of which have tasting rooms and restaurants for visitors to enjoy.

  • Marlborough

    Marlborough

    Easily the largest and undeniably the most renowned wine region in the country is Marlborough, a place that’ll no doubt be near the top of your list if you’re already a fan of NZ wines. Although wine in the region dates back to the 1870

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    Easily the largest and undeniably the most renowned wine region in the country is Marlborough, a place that’ll no doubt be near the top of your list if you’re already a fan of NZ wines.

    Although wine in the region dates back to the 1870s, it didn’t primarily take off until the 1970’s when Brancott Estate came to town with its huge vineyard. Huge success came in the 1980’s when Hunter’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc won 3 awards at the prestigious London International Wine Show and when other wineries like Cloudy Bay and Oyster Bay began exporting overseas, also to rave reviews, the region was off and away.

    Responsible for 75% of NZ’s annual wine production with 140+ wineries in the region, Marlborough is the must-visit spot for all wine-loving visitors to the country.

  • Central Otago

    Central Otago

    For fans of New Zealand Pinot Noir, and there is no shortage of those, the Central Otago wine region will be high on your list as a place to include on your winery itinerary. Many people know the Central Otago for its scenic untouched natur

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    For fans of New Zealand Pinot Noir, and there is no shortage of those, the Central Otago wine region will be high on your list as a place to include on your winery itinerary.

    Many people know the Central Otago for its scenic untouched natural surroundings and the amazing wine produced in the region make it a marriage made in heaven. It is a wine producing region that has the most southern location in the world and exists in its very own continental microclimate. The varietal of choice, as already mentioned, is Pinot Noir, but the region also produces some stunning Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

    With the likes of Queenstown and Wanaka within its boundaries, it’s a very easy one to add to the holiday schedule.

Three other wine regions worthy of consideration are Auckland, Martinborough and Canterbury.

Best Wineries in New Zealand

There are over 500 wineries in New Zealand so unless you’re planning to stay for a few years doing nothing else but visiting wineries, it’s going to be hard to get around them all.

Whilst they’re all of an extremely high standard, we’ve highlighted some of our favourites from the regions featured above, and a few outside as well in case your adventures happen to take you elsewhere.

Tantalus Estate - Waiheke Island

On the beautiful Waiheke Island, a short ferry ride from the shores of Auckland, you’ll find a number of great wineries including the awe-inspiring, Tantalus Estate.

This 20-acre picturesque vineyard is one of the newest of its kind in the country and is known for its Bordeaux and Rhone-style reds. Not only is the wine superb, but the surroundings are spectacular, especially the venue which has won architectural awards across the country.

They have all bases covered with a cellar door, brewery and restaurant on the premises with no stone left unturned. Even the light fittings are amazing and it’s details like that which really make the difference.

Craggy Range Winery - Hawke’s Bay

The scene that welcomes you at Craggy Range Winery is one that’s fitting of a postcard. With rows of vines in front of a beautifully designed venue and the mighty Te Mata Peak in the background, it’s a sight that leaves many speechless.

The wine also leaves visitors lost for words. Taking advantage of the warm climate and the stone and sandy alluvial soils, the winery produces glorious reds including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

Wine Enthusiast magazine named Craggy Range Winery the ‘New World Winery of the Year’ in 2014, a highlight of the many awards it’s received over the years. It has an outstanding Cellar Door and restaurant.

Church Road Winery - Hawke’s Bay

For something a little bit different, Church Road Winery is one to head to offering a range of activities for a complete winery experience. This includes its cellar door, restaurant, underground wine museum and concert venue.

Church Road Winery is actually one of the oldest in the country dating back to 1897 it embraces a philosophy that sticks to traditional winemaking techniques using French Oak cuves and barriques.

Although they specialise in red wine they also produce some extremely palatable and aromatic whites like Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.

Cloudy Bay - Marlborough

One of the most famous wineries in New Zealand cannot be omitted from this list and that is of course, Cloudy Bay, in the heart of winemaking country in Marlborough.

The spacious cellar door, which it needs to be given its popularity, is located at the winery itself and gives visitors great views of the Richmond Ranges. During the Summer, they also open the Jack’s Raw Bar, their relaxing outdoor wine lounge bar with great green spaces and petanque to enjoy should you wish.

You’ll be chomping at the bit to get at their iconic Sauvignon Blanc but their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is just as popular and just as good!

Wairau River Winery - Marlborough

Wairau River has some of the oldest vines in the region and has been a family run winery since the 1970s.

They also have one of the most sophisticated and beautiful cellar doors in the region where you can sit out on the lawn in the summer or by the fireplace in the winter enjoying their much-lauded Sauvignon Blanc.

The restaurant offers a seasonally inspired menu, with their mussel chowder especially amongst locals and visitors alike, and is a great place to enjoy a relaxed and casual lunch.

Peregrine Winery - Central Otago

Peregrine Wines say they produce “wine with altitude” which is a clever use of words but there are plenty of other clever things they do when it comes to winemaking.

This includes incorporating organic farming as part of the process for developing the land and enriching the compost for the vines. They even use the eggs from resident chickens too for wine fining. They are also heavily involved in local conservation.

A visit to the winery and cellar door is made all the more special by the spectacular and award-winning building that takes the form of a falcon’s wing. Then you have the wine including their spectacular Pinot Noir which you’ll want more than a taste of without a doubt.

Chard Farm Winery - Central Otago

20 minutes drive from Queenstown you’ll find Chard Farm Winery, another Pinot Noir specialist using the best of the natural conditions to produce wine of tremendous quality.

Chard Farm actually spent its first 120+ years as a farm and orchard before it was transformed in the 1980’s as a winery with the ambition to produce interesting wine to drink with food and good company.

The cellar door experience is superb, set in the beautiful hills of Central Otago with heart-stopping views and a building full of character and is open for tastings 7 days a week.

Pegasus Bay Winery - North Canterbury

In the sheltered Waipara Valley, 30 minutes drive from Christchurch, you’ll find Pegasus Bay Winery, a family-owned winery that believes in minimal intervention in all stages of the winemaking process.

Pegasus Bay is considered one of the top wineries in the country, let alone the region. Wine lovers adore the Riesling and Chardonnay which you can of course, try at the cellar door where they also stock several of their flagship reserve wines too.

If you have time for a meal, you won’t be disappointed by their restaurant which has won numerous awards for cuisine in New Zealand since 2005.

Ake Ake - Kerikeri, Northland

If you are looking for something a bit different, then Ake Ake is a great place for a visit. Located in Kerikeri, Northland, Ake Ake is a boutique vineyard specialising in growing and making award-winning wines from grape varietals such as Chambourcin, which are best suited to the climate and terroir of the far north.

All of the grapes grown at Ake Ake Vineyard are fully certified organic and it’s a great place for a visit if you have a few spare hours on a trip to Paihia and the Bay of Islands.

We would recommend a trip around lunch or dinner. The Vineyard Restaurant is renowned for serving fresh, seasonal local produce and is set among the vines creating a wonderful environment to enjoy a glass of wine and some of the tastiest food in the region.

New Zealand Wineries with great restaurants

We’ve already covered a few wineries with fantastic restaurants but there are plenty more like the ones below which are all especially known for their fine cuisine.

New Zealand Wineries with spectacular views

Not only do our vineyards have great wine and food, they are often located in some of the most secluded and beautiful spots in the country. There’s nothing that adds more to the relaxing ambience than a great view to look at, so we’ve listed the ones we think have the most spectacular views going.

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