Wine & Food

Every region on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail has its food and wine specialties. Hawke’s Bay will win you over with stylish reds, sexy chardonnays and orchards full of fruit; Tararua is the place to discover country cooking at its best; Wairarapa will woo you with pinot noir, pinot gris and a plethora of delicious eateries; the city of Wellington offers menu after menu of culinary creativity, as well as a robust coffee culture; and Marlborough will introduce you to the world’s best sauvignon blanc – a perfect match for local scallops and green-lipped mussels.

The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail takes you through three major wine growing regions, Marlborough, Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay, collectively responsible for over 70% of New Zealand’s total wine production. Travelling the Classic Wine Trail gives you the opportunity to enjoy the local wine specialties as well as compare the subtleties of regional variations.

 

Wine & Food

Don't miss

 

 

...the Farmers markets, for fresh seasonal local produce.

 

New City Market for Wellington begins weekly on Sunday mornings from 14 June 2009

Wellington on A Plate

14-29 August

Various Venues in Wellington

A food festival celebrating the capitals fondness for flavour and fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look out for orchards and berry farms that sell “pick your own” stone fruit, apples and berries.


 
Day 1
  • Spend a ½ or full day sampling some of Hawke’s Bay Wine Country’s award-winning red wines.  Join a tour with a knowledgeable guide.  See adjacent list of tour options or create your own tour using the Hawke’s Bay Winery Guide or collect from local cellar doors and i-SITE visitor centres in the region.


Day 2
Hawke's Bay wine tour
Hawke's Bay wine tasting

Hawke's Bay

  • Spend a ½ or full day discovering the tastes of Hawke’s Bay Wine Country by following a self guided Food Trail. Visit farm gates, artisan food producers and food-destination outlets for fruit, honey, cheese, olives, wine, chocolate and much more. All Food Trail stops prominently display a sign at the gate or entrance.  Collect a copy of the Food Trail map from any Hawke’s Bay i-SITE visitors centre

  • Learn about the history of winemaking throughout the ages at the Church Road Wine Museum. Daily tours take approximately 45 mins – 1 hour concluding with a tasting of current vintage releases.

  • Sharpen up your cooking skills at the Sileni Estates Winery. This state of the art winery houses the Sileni Estates Restaurant, Gourmet Cellar Store, Wine Discovery Centre, Culinary School and The Village Press Olive Oil press house. 

  • The New Zealand Wine Centre - located in Napier's iconic AMP Building and the ultimate wine experience in New Zealand.  For individuals, couples or gourps, novice or connoisseur, it is the perfect place to experience everthing and anything to do with wine.  From a state of the art interactive wine tasting adventure, to the schoold of wine and wine museum - it's simply a wine lover's haven.  VIsit the aroma awareness room and familiarise yourself with the different aromas associated with wine, followed by an interactive tasting of the regions quality wines.

  • Visit New Zealand’s oldest winery, The Mission Estate Winery which was established in 1851.

  • Discover The Silky Oak Chocolate Company with the only chocolate museum in the southern hemisphere.

  • Visit Pernel Fruitworld to see how world class pip and stonefruit is grown, while sampling some of the fresh seasonal produce on offer.

Stop at...

Buzz into the Arataki Honey Company for delicious honey.

Prenzel and put flavour into your life by adding vibrant colour and zing to your day with their wide range of natural products.

Te Mata Cheese at the foot of Te Mata Peak, for hand crafted specialty cheese which are matured to perfection.

The Filter Room for a complete range of traditionally hand crafted premium ales & ciders.

 

Hawke’s Bay local wine and food tours

Bay Tours and Bike About Tours Daily guided tours and bike tours. Tel. +64 6 845 9034

Odyssey New Zealand Iinteractive wine and food tours. Tel. +64 21 639 839 www.odysseynz.com

The New Zealand Wine Centre

Interactive wine tasting adventure, aroma rooms and specialist wine shop.

Tel. +64 6 835 5326 www.nzwinecentre.co.nz

Grape Escape Local Hawke’s Bay wine tours through to one week Wine Trail tour.
Tel. +64 21 227 7211 www.grapeescapenz.co.nz

On Yer Bike Winery Tours A unique, one-day, cycling experience through vineyards and olive groves.
Tel. +64 6 879 8735 www.onyerbikehb.co.nz

Prinsy’s Experiences Informative winery tours with knowledgeable local guide.
Tel. +64 6 845 3703 www.prinsyexperience.co.nz

Bike D'Vine A great way to enjoy freewheeling around Hawke's Bay.
Tel. +64 6 833 6697 www.bikedevine.com

 

Accommodation for a night in the vines…

Breckenridge Lodge, Taradale www.breckenridgelodge.co.nz
Craggy Range Retreats, Havelock North www.craggyrange.com
Clearview Estate Winery www.clearviewestate.co.nz
Black Barn Retreat Collection www.blackbarn.com
Askerne Winery Cottage www.askerne.co.nz

Glen Etive Cottages, Havelock North www.glenetivecottages.co.nz

 

Suggested Hawke’s Bay dining experiences

Clearview Estate Winery & Restaurant, Te Awanga
Clifton Bay Café and Bar, Te Awanga

Estuary's Restaurant, Ahuriri
Church Road Winery, Taradale
Mission Estate Winery, Taradale
Sileni Estates Winery, Hastings

Vidal Wines, Hastings
Chambers Restaurant, Napier

Pacifica Restaurant, Napier

Park Estate Winery, Napier

Take FIve Outside Ltd, Napier
Craggy Range – Terroir Restaurant, Havelock North

Black Barn Winery, Havelock North

Glen Etive Restaurant, Havelock North

For more dining suggestions visit http://www.hawkesbay.com

 
Day 3
Hawke's Bay to Wairarapa wine tour

Hawkes Bay to Wairarapa

  • Visit Tararua’s historic Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka. Tour the brewery, then taste your way through the selection of ales. The Tui HQ experience includes a brewery tour, museum, shop and café. www.tui.co.nz

  • Explore the colonial village of Greytown, browse the antique, homeware and fashion shops and
    art galleries.

  • Give in to your sweet tooth at Schoc, an artisan chocolate studio located on the main street
    of Greytown.
    www.schoc.co.nz

  • Indulge in authentic French breads and pastries handcrafted by an artisan baker at The French Baker.


Day 4
Wairarapa wineries
Wairarapa chees on the wine tour
  • Tour and discover boutique family-owned vineyards and artisan food producers in Martinborough, Greytown, Gladstone and Masterton.

  • Explore the vineyards of Martinborough on foot, by bicycle, London cab or even a horse
    and carriage.

See adjacent list of tour options or create your own tour using the Wairarapa Wine Map available online www.wairarapawines.co.nz or collect from local cellar doors and i-SITE visitor centres in
the region.

Stop at...

The Martinborough Wine Centre for an extensive range of local wines, a total wine tour of the region in one store.
www.martinboroughwinecentre.co.nz

Delve into the world of olives at Olivo in Martinborough. Taste the oils and learn about olive
oil production.
www.olivo.co.nz

Taste artisan sheep’s milk cheese at Kingsmeade Cheese. The gouda and cheddar-style cheese
are fantastic.


Wairarapa and Wellington local food and wine tours

Flat Earth Boutique range of guided tours to one or all of the wine regions along the Trail.
Tel. +64 4 977 5805 www.flatearth.co.nz

Zest Food Tours Discover the tastes of Wellington, Greytown and Martinborough with a personally-guided tour.
Tel. +64 4 801 9198 www.zestfoodtours.co.nz

Wairarapa Gourmet Wine Escape Day trip from Wellington by train to Wairarapa for vineyard tour and lunch.
Tel. +64 6 377 1227 www.tranzit.co.nz

March Hare Cycling - cycle vineyards & olive groves in Northern Wairarapa www.march-hare.co.nz

Vintners Choice Martinborough

Regional film and wine tasting experience.

Tel. +64 6 306 9442 www.vintnerschoice.co.nz

Wild About Wellington Beer tour www.wildaboutwellington.co.nz

Martinborough Wine Tours Fully-hosted personalised one day tours. Tel. +64 6 306 8032 www.martinboroughwinetours.co.nz

 

Accommodation for a night in the vines…

Parehua Country Estate www.parehua.co.nz

The Old Manse www.oldmanse.co.nz

Aylstone Boutique Retreat www.aylstone.co.nz

 

Suggested Wairarapa dining experiences

Bar Salute, Greytown
Peppers Martinborough Hotel, Martinborough
Wendy Campbell’s French Bistro, Martinborough

The Grill, Copthorne Solway Resort & Hotel Masterton

Click here for more Wairarapa dining suggestions

 
Day 5
Wellington wine tour
Wellington food and wine

Wellington

  • Walk around downtown and harbour-side, visit galleries and shopping in Lambton Quay and the national museum of Te Papa Tongarewa on the harbour waterfront.

  • Enjoy freshly roasted coffee. Then explore on foot with a Zest Walking Gourmet Tour introducing the lively food scene.
    www.zestfoodtours.co.nz

  • Take a Wild About Wellington Boutique Beer Tasting Tour
    www.wildaboutwellington.co.nz

  • Home to some of New Zealand’s finest chefs, Wellington offers a range of cuisine and a wide selection of restaurants in the central city. Check out the extensive wine lists at some of Wellington’s bars and restaurants.

Stop at...

Kaffee Is on Oriental Parade, enjoy the best ice-cream ever, more than thirty flavours to
choose from.

Explore central Wellingtons’ Moore Wilson, where café owners and restaurateurs do their shopping. Discover a tempting array of locally-produced meat, bread, produce and deli foods.

 

Jackson Street in Petone has great shops for cooks, including Bookfeast and House of Knives. Stop at Te Puna Ora for natural water direct from the acquifer.


Suggested Wellington accommodation

Museum Hotel, home to destination restaurant Hippopotamus

Intercontinental Wellington, home to award winning Chameleon Restaurant

 

 

Suggested Wellington dining experiences

Martin Bosley’s Yacht Club Restaurant, Oriental Parade
Logan Brown, Cuba Street
Matterhorn, Cuba Street
Arbitrageur
The Ambeli

Floriditas

Click here for more Wellington dining suggestions.

 

 

 

 
Day 6
Escape to Marlborough

Wellington to Marlborough

  • Experience “Kaitaki Plus” on board the Interislander ferry between Wellington and Picton, an exclusive private lounge with complimentary beer, wine, tea, coffee and finger food.

  • Relax and unwind over a leisurely lunch at one of the many award winning winery restaurants.

  • Take a twilight cruise over the summer season in the Marlborough Sounds enjoying local wines served with fresh seafood. In Queen Charlotte Sound enjoy the Salmon and Sav Cruise with Cougar Line or from Havelock board the Greenshell™ Mussel Cruise with Marlborough Travel
    www.cougarline.co.nz or www.marlboroughtravel.co.nz


Day 7
Marlborough vineyards

Marlborough wine tour on bikesMarlborough wine and food
  • Tour the wineries of New Zealand’s largest wine growing region, sample New Zealand’s internationally-acclaimed Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. (see adjacent list of tour options) or create your own tour using the Marlborough Wine Trail Guide available online link to www.wine-marlborough.co.nz or collect from local cellar doors and i-SITE visitor centres in the region.

  • Discover why Marlborough has been named the 'Gourmet Province of New Zealand' with a personal food tour. Meet local food growers and producers who will delight your taste buds with their produce and inspire you with their stories www.exploremarlborough.co.nz

  • There are a wide range of ½ and full day tours. Catch a helicopter for a wine tour with a difference www.windhawkhelicopters.com

  • Or hire a bike and cycle around the wineries, gathering a few bottles as you go.

  • Visit the green-lipped mussel town of Havelock for a splendid seafood lunch

  • Enjoy a multi-course degustation dinner at Herzog www.herzog.co.nz

  • Join a cheese making workshop at Sherrington Grange where cheese is lovingly created by hand, in a tiny farm dairy in the Marlborough Sounds www.sherringtongrange.co.nz

  • Learn how to prepare and present a 3-course gourmet menu that can easily be put into practice when entertaining at home in a hands-on workshop at Herzog.

    www.herzog.co.nz

Stop at...

Makana chocolate factory on Rapaura Road and watch the confectionery masters at work.

The Vines Village on Rapaura Road to sample the extensive range of locally produced olive oils and internationally award winning liqueurs and culinary fare at Prenzel.

A roadside stall for fresh seasonal produce or pick your own fruit including cherries, berries and stone fruit at one of the many region's orchards.


Marlborough local wine and food tours

Marlborough Travel Daily wine and food tours.
Tel. +64 3 577 9997 www.marlboroughtravel.co.nz

Sounds Connection Daily winery tour.
Tel. +64 3 573 8843 www.soundsconnection.co.nz

deVine Tours Personalised wine walking tours.
Tel. +64 21 458 430 www.devinetoursmarlborough.co.nz

Marlborough Wine Tours Guided small group tours.
Tel. +64 3 578 9515 www.marlboroughwinetours.co.nz

Bubbly Grape Personalised tours.
Tel. +64 27 672 2195 www.bubblygrape.co.nz

Vine to Wine Small group tours with qualified guide.
Tel. +64 3 578 8459

.
Tel. +64 3 572 9132 www.windhawkhelicopters.com

Wine Tours By Bike
Tel. +64 3 577 6954 www.winetoursbybike.co.nz

Explore Marlborough Guided bike tours and food tours.
Tel. +64 3 579 5765 www.exploremarlborough.co.nz

 

Accommodation for a night in the vines…

Marlborough Vintners Hotel, Rapaura Road www.mvh.co.nz
Vintners Retreat, Rapaura Road www.vintnersretreat.co.nz
Old Saint Marys Convent, Rapaura Road www.convent.co.nz
St Leonards Vineyards Cottages, St Leonards Road www.stleonards.co.nz
Maison Grange, Dry Hills Estate www.maisongrange.co.nz
The Peppertree Luxury Accommodation www.thepeppertree.co.nz

Straw Lodge

www.strawlodge.co.nz

 

Suggested Marlborough dining experiences

Highfield Estate Winery
Herzog Winery and Luxury Restaurant
Gibbs Vineyard Restaurant
The Portage Resort Hotel – Te Weka Restaurant
Twelve Trees Restaurant – Allan Scott Wines
Marlborough Vintners Hotel
Drylands Restaurant
Hotel D’Urville

Click here for more Marlborough dining suggestions

 

The Wine Regions

Marlborough

Made without compromise, Marlborough wines are known for their extraordinary flavours and aromas. The sauvignon blanc grown here is acclaimed throughout the world for its breathtaking pungency and crisp herbaceous ness. Pinot noir is also very happy here, a factor that has contributed to the region’s growing success with sparkling wines. For in-depth information on the wineries in Marlborough visit
www.wine-marlborough.co.nz

 

Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay history abounds with early winemaking successes and continues today with both classic wine styles and experimental varieties new to the region. Red wine production is centred on merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, cabernet franc and malbec. Chardonnay and sauvignon blanc are the main white varietals. For a detailed guide to the wineries visit Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers.
www.winehawkesbay.co.nz

 

Wairarapa

The Wairarapa wine region is packed with charm, and is an essential destination for those with a palate for fine food and wine. The three sub-regions of Martinborough, Gladstone and Masterton include more 50 boutique wineries, mostly family-owned. The focus is always on quality rather than volume.
www.wairarapawines.co.nz

www.winesfrommartinborough.com


 Marlborough did for Sauvignon Blanc what the Beatles did for pop music and Hitchcock did for modern cinema.
Chris Losh, Wine International


 New Zealand wowed the wine universe with wholly original and affordable Sauvignon Blancs from Marlborough... Now you’re riding the SIDEWAYS fuelled Pinot Noir wave, evoking envy from Burgundy to California and you’re showcasing those and other gems in unpretentious, user-friendly tasting rooms.
Jerry Shriver, USA Today, March 9, 2007.

 

The Wine Regions
 
 
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