Though its wine industry only properly got going towards the end of the last century, the best New Zealand wineries to visit compete with the top estates anywhere else in the world, whether you want a tasting, a tour or top-end fine dining.
While the gates of many Bordeaux châteaux remain padlocked to visitors, much of Burgundy is off-limits unless you’re a serious collector, and even Napa Valley’s most enticing options might depend on what you’re prepared to spend, New Zealand has taken a different approach, throwing open the doors with a welcome that reflects the spirit of warm, family-friendly hospitality for which Kiwis are rightly renowned.
Geographically, New Zealand is slightly larger than the UK, albeit with well under a tenth of the population, and its wine map broadly covers the country, from the Northland region all the way down to Central Otago, so you’re never very far from a winery welcome. Figures from the country’s official tourist survey suggest that more than a quarter of overseas travellers will visit a vineyard, brewery or distillery as part of their itinerary. For British visitors, the figure is even higher, at 36%.
I just love New Zealand – I have visited the country five times in little more than a decade – so, based on my travels around both islands, here are my recommendations, from north to south, for a tasting, memorable meal or even, in some cases, somewhere special to nestle down and stay the night amidst the vines. Read on for six of the best New Zealand wineries to visit.
Six of the best New Zealand wineries to visit
The Landing
Bay of Islands
You will likely struggle to find a more bucolic setting than The Landing, located on a peninsula in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand’s Northland region. Famed for its cool, complex Chardonnay, a visit entails a boat ride from Russell, across the inlets of the bay, arriving at a private jetty, where a tour and tasting is followed by a chef-prepared lunch. Visits must be booked in advance. It’s a bit of a schlep, a place to get away from it all, providing the perfect excuse to stay the night in one of the 1000-acre estate’s four well-appointed residences.
Wine to try: The Landing, Chardonnay, 2022
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Man O’ War
Waiheke
Located in the Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke is a beguiling island paradise, boasting beautiful beaches, that’s just a short ferry ride from Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city. Once a haven for hippies, Waiheke is now the height of fashion, with property prices to match, but it retains a relaxed, bohemian vibe, whilst also producing some of the country’s most coveted cuvées, courtesy of its steep slopes, dense woodland and maritime weather conditions. At the island’s eastern end, Man O’ War offers a seriously impressive range of wines for tasting, enticing eating options, including wood-fired pizza and, above all, the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. This truly represents one of the best New Zealand wineries to visit for someone looking to get away from it all. These days there’s even a direct ferry service from downtown Auckland, which avoids a long bus ride across the island.
Wine to try: Man O’ War, Gravestone Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, 2019
Craggy Range
Hawke’s Bay
Established in 1998 by Australian entrepreneurs, Terry and Mary Peabody, Craggy Range was the result of an epic search to build a lasting legacy for their family and the scale of their ambition is palpable from the moment you walk into the architectural splendour of the winery, tasting room and restaurant. The complex, in the shadow of Hawke’s Bay’s Te Mata peak, is surrounded by vines, though Craggy Range’s chief winemaker, Ben Tombs, crafts cuvées from grapes grown all over New Zealand. Executive chef, Casey McDonald, champions Hawke’s Bay’s abundant produce on a menu that pairs perfectly with their top notch wines, most of them served by the glass. The luxurious vineyard cottages also offer an irresistible place to put your head down for the night.
Wine to try: Craggy Range, Le Sol, 2021
Cloudy Bay
Marlborough
Cloudy Bay is an iconic property most famous for its signature Sauvignon Blanc, a wine that put Marlborough on the map. Once pioneering, with vines planted on what had previously been pasture, these days the brand is part of the luxury goods conglomerate, LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Möet Hennessy). But don’t let that put you off because the well-appointed winery has retained an authentic Kiwi charm. Offering tasting flights, tours of the vineyard by Land Rover, and even the chance to ‘sip and sail’ the serene waters of the Marlborough Sounds, there’s also a fantastic raw bar with freshly shucked oysters and Cloudy Bay clams to enjoy as you sample the well made wines. For those with deep pockets, there’s ‘The Shack’ (pictured) – a misnomer, as it is seriously chic: a four-bedroom home for hire built on the site of the original bungalow in which founder, David Hohnen, once lived.
Wine to try: Cloudy Bay, Te Koko, 2021
Saint Clair
Marlborough
Established 30 years ago by Neal and Judy Ibbotson, pioneers who began growing grapes in Marlborough as long ago as 1978, Saint Clair has the cosy feel of a family winery. The busy cellar door offers tasting flights from the wide range of wines, including an impressive traditional method sparkler. However, it’s best to reserve a spot for lunch, where German-born chef David Haase offers seasonal, locally sourced specialities, served in a rustic restaurant carved into the middle of the vineyard.
Wine to try: Saint Clair, Dawn Méthode Traditionnelle, NV
Amisfield
Central Otago
Sitting alongside Lake Hayes, watched over by the Remarkables mountain range, not far from the tourist mecca of Queenstown, Amisfield’s rustic stone winery is very much a dining destination that is arguably as famous for the quality of its food as for its wines. Award-winning chef, Vaughan Mabee, showcases the unique terroir and heritage of Central Otago with multi-course tasting menus served at lunch and dinner. They are paired with a range of the estate’s wines, led by a collection of classy Pinot Noir cuvées, Amisfield’s speciality.
Wine to try: Amisfield, RKV Reserve Pinot Noir, 2014
