Wine Regions

New Zealand's Information Network has provided this summary of the main wine growing regions and local vineyard trails as a guide for the visiting wine enthusiast. For a small country on the Pacific Rim, New Zealand is having a remarkable impact on the world wine scene. Missionaries planted our first vines as early as 1819, but only in the last two decades have we seen this country

The majestic golden tussock hills, dramatic river gorges and weird schist rock outcrops of ‘Central’ make it a most memorable wine trail destination.

The wine traveller can indulge in luxury in our fourth largest wine-growing region. Canterbury offers superb lifestyle accommodation, wining and dining at exquisite historic homestead vineyards.

One of our newest, rapidly expanding wine growing areas is in a quiet North Canterbury town, an hour’s drive north of Christchurch.

It is no coincidence that New Zealand’s most famous wine region has the largest grape production and the highest sunshine hours in the country. Marlborough far exceeds the output of any other region.

Picture this! A sumptuous lunch with local fish delicacies, cheeses, olives and fresh fruit. All in a very popular, stylish holiday destination, which is famous for sunshine, beaches, forests, wine, seafood and creative arts.

A town with a laid-back village atmosphere has emerged as the hub of this prestigious wine region. Martinborough launched itself onto the world wine scene with superlative Burgundy style Pinot Noir reds in the 1980’s.

Catch the classic New Zealand wine trail safari through this bountiful, sun-drenched region. Hawke’s Bay has over 40 vineyards and is second to Marlborough in terms of total grape production.

The title of ‘Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand’ actually belongs to the most easterly wine region in the world.

This ‘Island Suburb’ in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf is the perfect place for a combined seaside holiday and wine trail exploration.

Explore the lush Waikato land and the broad sweep of country inland from the Bay of Plenty, where a dozen wineries produce around 3% of New Zealand’s wine.

For four generations these dedicated pioneer viticulturists tended their vines as the city grew around them slowly engulfing their productive slopes within dense urban conurbations.