Internationally recognized as one of the top producers of Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, the largest of New Zealand’s wine making regions containing 79% of New Zealand’s total active wine production, delights tourists and wine lovers alike with more than 70 wineries, an abundance of fine restaurants and accommodations and plenty of tour operators eager to assist you in any way.

Marlborough is located on the east coast of New Zealand’s south island and can be reached by ferry from Wellington. The climate is perfect for vineyards due to the proximity of the mountains to the west making it one of the country’s sunniest and driest regions. The city of Blenheim is at the region’s heart, and is just a short 20 minute drive from the breathtaking beauty of the Marlborough Sounds. Over the hills and to the south are the Awatere Valley and the seaside town of Kaikoura. The Discover Marlborough and Wines of Marlborough Website provides great information on local wine routes and other tourist related information.

No matter what time of year you visit, produce from the Marlborough Sounds, the Wairau Plain, the Awatere Valley and Kaikoura is always in season. Springtime brings asparagus and strawberries; Summer abounds with cherries, berries and stone fruit; Autumn brings apples, olives and the wine harvest, while Winter is the time for hearty vegetables. And all year round, the region’s seafood – crayfish, blue cod, snapper, salmon, greenshell mussels and scallops – can be enjoyed with Marlborough’s superb wines

From the Marlborough Sound’s clear waterways and the Pacific Coast’s plunging depths comes a bounty of fresh seafood and from the land wild game, lamb and beef, fresh garlic and seasonal stone fruit.

The Marlborough Wine Festival  is New Zealand’s longest running and most successful wine festival.  Take the opportunity to sample a unique selection of Marlborough wines along with some delicious local produce and gourmet cuisine.  The festival offers something for everyone including wine tutorials with the regions’ leading winemakers and viticulturists, Thomas’s Fashion in the Vines competition, Food and wine matching and fantastic entertainment from some of New Zealand’s leading performers.