Did you know that New Zealand boasts some of the best wine country in the entire world? The largest winegrowing region of NZ is Marlborough, which is renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.

However, it’s not only a lovely place to take a relaxing day trip in terms of food and drink – it also offers a wide array of natural landscapes, including rolling hills and endless vineyards.

The best way to experience it is undoubtedly on one of the 5 top Marlborough Wine Tours, all of which are well worth your time and money! Let’s jump right in!

Best Wine Tours in Marlborough, New Zealand

	Marlborough Full Day Wine Tour	Full Day Winemakers Tour in Marlborough	Martinborough Winery Tour
Meeting Location:	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	145 Wakefield Street, Blenheim
Tour Length:	6 hours	6.5 hours	5.5 hours
Start Time(s):	10:00 AM	10:30 AM	10:00 AM
What’s Included:	All transportation, guide, bottled water and crisps on the bus, all tasting fees at cellar doors for award winning Marlborough wines	All wine tasting fees, Air-conditioned vehicle, Free door-to-door collection and drop off from Blenheim/Renwick areas, Vineyard Lunch stop during the tour	Visit three of the regions best wineries, driver guide, all transportation, all tasting fees, small group tour
	Check Tour Availability	Check Tour Availability	Check Tour Availability

Our 5 Top Picks For The Best Marlborough Wine Tour:

1. Marlborough Full Day Wine Tour
2. Full Day Winemakers Tour in Marlborough
3. Martinborough Winery Tour
4. Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tour Including Wine Tasting
5. Discover Marlborough Wine – Afternoon Marlborough Wine Tour

Marlborough Wine Tour Reviews

1. Marlborough Full Day Wine Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

Let’s kick things off on the right foot with the Marlborough Full Day Wine Tour, taking you on a scenic drive through the Wairau Valley and stopping at 5-6 esteemed wineries.

Each visit includes carefully curated tastings of their very best, where you’ll learn about flavor notes, how to savor a variety of wines, and even learn about their unique winemaking processes. Outside of that, if it’s your first time in Marlborough, you’re sure to enjoy exploring and learning a bit about the township and local industries!

Expect a delicious, leisurely lunch at a local winery restaurant, which offers a welcome interlude, featuring fresh, locally sourced cuisine. Throughout the day, you’ll soak in the stunning vineyard landscapes and engage in lively discussions with fellow wine enthusiasts.

Oh, and you’ll be ending the tour at a local chocolate factory, which is quite possibly the best way to end anything.

What Makes This Tour Great

This tour is so great in many ways, but what I loved most was just how all-encompassing and versatile the itinerary was. It didn’t just focus on wine, though that was a large part of it – we saw places around town that offered more insight into what really makes this place and its locals tick.

Not to mention, with round-trip transportation in a minibus door-to-door from our hotel and all fees included, it couldn’t have been more convenient. Each cellar door included a lovely tour through the vineyards, which made the wine tastings all the more special after knowing quite literally where they come from.

After walking through one of the breathtaking vineyards, we took a break for a mouthwatering lunch comprised of local ingredients and fueled up for more artisan cellar doors. Last but not least, is the Makana Chocolate Factory for a brief tour, watching the chocolatier whip up some hand-made gourmet chocolates right in front of us before trying them!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

2. Full Day Winemakers Tour in Marlborough

What to Expect on the Tour

The Full Day Winemakers Tour in Marlborough is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, taking you to 4 to 6 different wineries to give you an in-depth look at the region’s best offerings.

Expect behind-the-scenes, VIP experiences rather than standard tours that just go through the motions and check off boxes without inspiration or expertise. If you want a bit of flexibility in your itinerary, you can even opt to visit breweries and sample local food, too!

Expect to go through proper guided tastings with sommeliers and winemakers, sampling a fine selection of Pinot Noir and aromatic whites, with each reflecting the special terroir of the area.

With a small group size, you’ll benefit from personalized attention from your guide, where you can ask any questions you may have without competing for attention. Focusing more on family-run boutiques, it’s a fantastic way to really learn about the inner workings of a winery and what it takes to produce on this level.

What Makes This Tour Great

I’ll start out by saying this: even if you aren’t a wine drinker, you’ll either find something that converts you or you’ll still have a blast enjoying the scenery and learning the history of the area.

The transportation was seamless, well-organized, and comfortable to the point that I fell asleep almost every single time we headed back onto the coach. Our guide was friendly and clearly an expert, answering all of our questions in conjunction with the wonderful vineyard staff.

As we continued to the different stops, our guide made sure everything went off without a hitch, even offering to take photos of us throughout for a great souvenir to take home. We opted to see Ant Moore Wines, where I have one of the most incredible ciders of my life (their beer is great, too!).

We visited a whopping 5 wineries, which I felt was quite generous and offered an all-encompassing look into what the region has to offer.

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

3. Martinborough Winery Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

Expect to set off on a beautiful 5.5-hour journey from Wellington to Martinborough, with an intimate look into 3 renowned wineries which provide exclusive cellar door tastings of world-class wines.

The Martinborough Winery Tour highlights include visits to famous establishments such as Poppies Martinborough, Te Kairanga, and more. Each one offers friendly staff, unique varietals, and picturesque vineyard views that feel like something off a postcard.

Throughout the 3 winery visits, the staff is there to share a behind-the-scenes look into their winemaking processes and traditions, particularly at the second winery. The tour not only takes you to three of the best regional wineries for Cellar Door tastings, but you’ll also stop for a bit of nature sightseeing, such as the Summit in the Wairarapa Valley.

Throughout the entire time, your guide is there to provide engaging, intriguing narration about not only viticulture, but history, culture, and geology of the area.

What Makes This Tour Great

With curated tastings and insights into each of the 3 winery’s unique offerings, you’ll soon find new local favorites and even be able to take a bottle or two home with you!

The itinerary isn’t always the same, but you can expect to go to visit the top wineries here. For example, we had around 5 different wines while surrounded by gorgeous vineyard views at May Hall, and at Poppies Martinborough Cellar Door.

I highly recommend opting for the delicious lunch, which is an additional fee, but is super tasty and gave us all the chance to sit down and chat with others about our experience so far.

Our guide was the cherry on top – interacting with all of us and making sure no one was left out, while sharing fun personal anecdotes along with more in-depth viticultural info.

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

4. Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tour Including Wine Tasting

What to Expect on the Tour

Kick off your journey in Blenheim with a convenient hotel pickup from your guide, and head off through Marlborough’s beautiful wine country!

The Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tour Including Wine Tasting is a comprehensive, immersive excursion where you’ll visit various reputable wineries, which are mixed up daily. You’ll never do the exact same tour twice, even if you book it multiple times!

Expect to try the region’s esteemed Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Pinot Noir, along with some varietals that may be a bit more “obscure”. As you continue along your viticultural adventure, your guide, along with winery staff, will share interesting info all about Marlborough’s wine culture and history.

With a small group, you don’t have to worry about getting lost in the crowd or struggling to hear your guide as they speak. No need to worry about transport, planning, or additional fees – it’s all handled here for you so you can sit back, relax, and take it all in!

What Makes This Tour Great

To start, right when our guide picked us up from our hotel, I knew we were in for a great time together! He was super friendly, funny, and clearly knew pretty much everything there is to know about the Marlborough region and its wine!

The pacing always felt perfect, and we were never rushed nor felt like we were droning on at any one spot. Our small group experience was such a blast, too – none of us knew each other beforehand and maybe 20 minutes into the tour it felt like we’d been friends forever.

We were able to walk through a few different local vineyards and take in the beautiful landscapes surrounding us, before going inside for some amazing wine tastings led by either a winemaker or owner! We even stopped for lunch around the halfway mark at the Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen for further wine tasting and delicious, pretty food!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

5. Discover Marlborough Wine – Afternoon Marlborough Wine Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

Last but certainly not least is the Discover Marlborough Wine – Afternoon Marlborough Wine Tour experience! This is the shortest tour of its kind, though it’s very comprehensive, taking you to various esteemed wineries. If you’re historically more a fan of reds, this is one of the best introductions to white wine I’ve ever been on (and I love white wine!).

Expect a nice overview with behind-the-scenes looks into the distinct terroirs of the regions, with one of the winery owners even giving us a tour himself! All sommeliers are friendly and professional, and if you’re a newbie to wine tasting, they’re great teachers in a way that’s welcoming.

If you like white wine at all, this excursion is more than worth it! Not only that, but the guide/driver offers some great recommendations for places to eat and visit throughout the rest of your trip!

What Makes This Tour Great

If you’re on the hunt for a flexible itinerary that focuses on white wine while focusing more on your specific interests, the Discover Marlborough Wine – Afternoon Marlborough Wine Tour is fantastic. The convenient hotel pickup at our desired pickup time was a big help, as we avoided booking separate transportation and didn’t have to worry about logistics while drinking wine.

Along our ride, our guide shared all kinds of interesting stories about wine production, which dates all the way back to the 1800s, with the region currently accounting for over 3/4 of the entire country’s wine production!

The small group setting maxes out at just 11 people, so it’s great for friend groups, families (18+ years of age or older), or even if you’re solo traveling and want a good way to like-minded travelers. We stopped at 4 different vineyards, with the curation offering a nice variety of different wines, so things were never redundant!

If you’ve ever had curiosity about the way top-notch wineries actually make wine (from growing the grapes to bottling), this is a fantastic experience!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

Allison Sheardy

Allison Sheardy came to wine as a second career in 2016 and has truly found her calling. She has created a niche for herself working in unique wine regions around the United States (Texas Hill Country, historic Livermore, CA, & Minnesota), where she specializes in hospitality for boutique, family-owned wineries. Allison is equally passionate about wine education. As such, she has earned her WSET Diploma in Wines and completed the French Wine Scholar program. Allison is currently pursuing her Master of Wine and teaches WSET levels 1-3.