Full Day Winemakers Tour in Marlborough
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With a winemaker or local legend as your guide; your tour starts with an informative vineyard stroll. You can ask all those curly questions, and capture some great vineyard photos. During your full day tour you visit 5 wineries including New Zealand family owned estates, world famous wineries and small boutique organic vineyards(depending on the preferences of the group). With over 40 cellar doors to choose from, if you’ve got a favorite we’ll do our best to get you there. We generally focus on a new Zealand family owned vineyards and wineries but can also visit the small boutique and organic vineyards. This tour does not include a visit to Cloudy Bay, Fromm and Hans Herzog. If Cloudy Bay is a must see then please book our Gourmet Gold Tour or a Private Wine tour Lunch at a vineyard restaurant is always a highlight and is at your own cost. There is opportunity to visit the Makana Chocolate Shop. Visit 4-6 wineries.
Your experience
Stop 1
Among the stops on your full day of Marlborough wine touring is Lawson's Dry Hills, a winery built on grit, innovation, and community. Rather than relying on a single site, Lawson's draws fruit from multiple valleys across Marlborough, giving their wines real flexibility and a genuine sense of place. The range reflects heritage and terroir, approachable yet seriously crafted, with sustainability running through everything they do. The cellar door is lined with trophies from gold medals won locally and internationally, and the tasting experience here is warm and relaxed, often including reserve or limited release wines. It's a genuine, character-filled look at Marlborough winemaking.
Stop 2
This is one of our favourite winery restaurants that we often stop at to enjoy a relaxed gourmet lunch.
Stop 3
If you enjoy beer, cider or wine, we can finish the tour relaxing at our favourite local DNA brewery. It is an opportunity to taste local hand-crafted, and award winning beers! If you don't want to taste the beer, they also have award-winning Ant Moore wines.
Stop 4
Among the stops on your full day itinerary is Framingham, one of Marlborough's original wine families, known for its warm welcome and specialty in aromatic wines. Alongside classic Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, Framingham has built a reputation for standout Riesling and Gewürztraminer, giving you the chance to explore beyond the usual varietals in a relaxed garden cellar door setting.
Stop 5
Among the stops on your full day of Marlborough wine touring is Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen, one of the region's most loved winery restaurants, set at one of Marlborough's most awarded wine producers. Enjoy time among the vines tasting Saint Clair's celebrated Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and aromatics, with the option to pause for a relaxed lunch built around fresh, seasonal produce. As one of several distinctive stops across the day, Saint Clair offers a true vineyard to table experience in the heart of the Wairau Valley.
Stop 6
As part of your full day exploring Marlborough, you'll stop at Makana Chocolate Factory, where visitors can watch handmade chocolates being crafted using traditional methods. It's a fun contrast to the day's wine tasting, with free samples of Makana's delicious chocolate range on offer and the chance to pick up a box to take home. A relaxed, family-friendly stop that rounds out your day of wine country exploring.
Stop 7
Picton is a picturesque harbour town at the top of the South Island, and a popular pickup point for our Full Day Marlborough wine tours. Set on the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound, it's the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and a favourite stop for cruise ship visitors and ferry travellers arriving from Wellington. From Picton, it's a short, scenic drive into the heart of Marlborough's wine country, where your full day of tasting begins. With a full day ahead, guests collected from Picton get to properly experience the contrast between the sheltered coastal beauty of the Sounds and the sunny, vine-covered valleys just a short drive inland, two very different sides of Marlborough in a single day. For guests staying in Picton your tour guide will drive you through Picton and point out all of the best restaurants and places to visit.
Stop 8
Blenheim is the heart of Marlborough, and the natural starting point for our Full Day wine tour. Sitting in the sunny Wairau Valley and surrounded by over 150 wineries, Blenheim puts you right in the middle of New Zealand's largest and most celebrated wine region. Your full day begins here, moving between well-known producers and boutique, family-run cellar doors across the valley, with a proper sit-down lunch at a vineyard restaurant along the way. The town itself has a relaxed, welcoming feel, with excellent local restaurants, cafes, and craft breweries rounding out the experience once your day of tasting is done.
Stop 9
Marlborough is New Zealand's largest wine region, and a full day here gives you time to properly explore it. Spread across the sunny Wairau and Awatere Valleys, the region is home to over 150 wineries and is famous the world over for Sauvignon Blanc, alongside excellent Pinot Noir, aromatics, and traditional method sparkling wines. Over the course of your day, you'll move between internationally recognised producers and small, family-run cellar doors, tasting the range this region is genuinely capable of. Beyond the vines, Marlborough's scenery is stunning, from rolling vineyard plains to the mountains framing the valley. With a full day to explore, you'll leave with a real sense of why Marlborough is considered one of the world's great wine regions, not just a quick taste of it.
What’s included
- Vineyard Lunch stop during the tour - lunch at your own cost
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Free door-to-door collection and drop off from Blenheim/Renwick areas
- All wine tasting fees
Not included
- Picton, Havelock, Rarangi, Hawkesbury & Waihopai transfers may be available with additional charge
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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