Top 10 Boutique Wineries Blenheim

09/06/2023 By Cameron Clarke

Blenheim’s Boutique Wineries

Introduction:

Welcome to Marlborough, a region renowned for its world-class wines. However, amidst the fame of its larger wineries, there is an undeniable allure to boutique wineries. These hidden gems offer a distinct and intimate experience that sets them apart. From personalized tastings to unique varietals, boutique wineries showcase the artistry and passion of winemaking in a truly special way. With their unique experiences and exceptional wines, these hidden gems capture the essence of Marlborough. So, let us embark on a journey to uncover the hidden treasures of Marlborough’s boutique wineries. With their exceptional wines, charming atmospheres, and personalized experiences, these boutique wineries offer a unique and memorable adventure. Join us as we delve into the world of boutique winemaking and discover the essence of Marlborough’s wine culture.

Greywacke

Founded by renowned winemaker Kevin Judd, Greywacke is a name synonymous with excellence in winemaking. Known for their exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, Greywacke wines showcase Marlborough’s unique characteristics. Visit their boutique winery and cellar door, immerse yourself in the vineyard’s ambiance, and experience the artistry behind their acclaimed wines.

Gibson Bridge

Nestled in the heart of Marlborough, Gibson Bridge is a standout boutique winery known for its dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Additionally, their vineyards yield exquisite aromatic wines, with their signature Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer standing out as true highlights. The unique terroir and meticulous winemaking techniques result in wines that are rich in flavor, complexity, and character. Indulge in the sensory delights offered by these exceptional varietals and experience the distinct charm of their vineyard expressions. The owners’ passion shines through in every sip, making it a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts seeking something extraordinary.

Nautilus Estate

Celebrated for its sophisticated wines, Nautilus Estate seamlessly blends tradition and innovation. With a focus on handcrafted excellence, their wines beautifully express the unique qualities of Marlborough’s diverse terroir. From renowned Méthode Traditionnelle wines to exceptional Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, Nautilus Estate guarantees a memorable tasting experience at their boutique winery.

Nautilus winery tasting room from the outside showing the Nautilus shell. — **The Captivating Wines of Nautilus Estate**
https://www.nautilusestate.com

Johanneshof

Johanneshof is a boutique winery dedicated to crafting elegant, handcrafted wines using traditional European winemaking techniques. Their portfolio includes exceptional Méthode Traditionnelle wines, aromatic whites, and cool-climate reds. Visit their charming cellar door and appreciate the dedication and passion that go into each bottle.

Bladen

Bladen is a boutique winery dedicated to producing small-batch, premium wines with a distinct Marlborough character. From their elegant Sauvignon Blanc to their expressive Pinot Noir, every sip reveals the passion and craftsmanship behind their exceptional wines. A visit to Bladen offers an intimate and personalized experience.

Forrest Wines

Forrest Wines, founded by Dr. John Forrest and his wife, Brigid, is known for its diverse range of varietals and innovative winemaking techniques. From their award-winning Sauvignon Blanc to their rich, full-bodied reds, Forrest Wines offers a journey through Marlborough’s vinous treasures. Their boutique winery and cellar door welcomes visitors to taste and explore their exceptional wines.

Forrest wine tasting — **Unleashing the flavors of nature in every sip at Forrest Wines**
https://www.forrest.co.nz

Clos Henri

Clos Henri seamlessly blends the traditions of the Loire Valley with the distinct Marlborough terroir. By cultivating Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in the clay-limestone soils, they craft wines that exude finesse, balance, and an unmistakable sense of place. A visit to Clos Henri offers a wonderful wine tasting experience.

Framingham

Framingham Wines is a renowned boutique winery in Marlborough known for its exceptional cool-climate wines. With a focus on sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention, their aromatic whites, like Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, stand out. Discover their vibrant and expressive wines at their cellar door, where you’ll experience their warm hospitality firsthand.

Rock Ferry: Currently Closed

Rock Ferry Wines is a standout boutique winery located in Marlborough. They are committed to organic and biodynamic practices, ensuring their wines reflect the purity of the land. With a diverse range of varietals, including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, Rock Ferry Wines offers a unique and unforgettable tasting experience. Their dedication to quality and sustainability shines through in every sip, making them a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts.

Rock Ferry wine tasting hosted in their vineyard — **Indulge in the pure essence of organic wines at Rock Ferry, where sustainability meets exceptional taste.**
https://rockferry.co.nz

No.1 Family Estate

No.1 Family Estate, founded by Daniel Le Brun, is a renowned boutique winery in Marlborough specializing in exceptional sparkling wines. With a commitment to traditional method production, their wines are known for their elegance, complexity, and fine craftsmanship. A visit to No.1 Family Estate is a must for sparkling wine enthusiasts seeking a taste of world-class bubbles.

Conclusion:

Embarking on a journey through Marlborough’s boutique wineries is an experience like no other. With Hop N Grape Tours as your guide, you’ll discover the remarkable craftsmanship, passion, and the unique terroir that defines these wineries. Let the hidden gems of Marlborough captivate your senses and create unforgettable memories. Raise your glass to the artistry and dedication poured into every bottle, and toast to the flavors that have made this region renowned. Cheers to an extraordinary wine-tasting adventure!

Book your wine tour now with Hop N Grape Tours!

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Best wineries In Marlborough

22/07/2021 By Cameron Clarke

What are best wineries in Marlborough?

Great question and the answer is easy but it depends on what you like. The best winery is the winery that has the best staff and has the best wine.

The benefit of being on a Wine tour with Hop n Grape tours in we know all the staff, at every winery by name. Some cellar door hosts are very grumpy and should be avoided. Some will have you in fits of laughter and invite you to sample their favourite vintages. If you book a tour you will find us very well connected and you will be taken you to the best wineries in Marlborough and you will get to taste their best wine.
Find the best wineries in Marlborough

Who has the best wine in Marlborough?

Winemakers love to compete for the Award of the best wine in Marlborough. We have a Marlborough Wine show every year and on that day if your wine looks better than everyone’s else then it is judged as the best. Will this winery have your favourite wine on the wine tour? You will find out if you book a tour. Best wine and best in Marlborough

Who makes the best Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough?

The answer may take us all day to answer but by the end of the full day wine tour with Hop n Grape tours. You will know who makes the best Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough. Showcase wine tour guests enjoying a Blenheim winery tour

What if I only drink Red wine and hate Sauvignon Blanc?

You are not alone. Many guests who book on Marlborough Winery tours admit that they don’t like white wine, some don’t like red wine and some don’t think they like any wine. I will guarantee you we will find you something you LOVE. There is so much variety in this beautiful wine region, there is something for everyone.

Who has the best wine in Marlborough

Hop n Grape tours will personalize your tour and take you there!

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Cloudy Bay Wine tasting

24/06/2020 By Cameron Clarke

Cloudy Bay Marlborough Wine Pioneers
Group Wine Tasting inside Cloudy Bay Tasting room
Is Cloudy Bay worth the money?
Cloudy bay vineyard tasting

Hop n Grape tours visits Cloudy Bay wine tasting on request. We love the friendly staff and the beautiful tasting room. The Cloudy bay vineyard wine tasting includes 4 wines. The Sparkling Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. For someone looking for something special the Te Koko Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is one of my personal favourites.
To book your Marlborough Winery tour to Cloudy bay wine tasting call us today.

Cloudy bay is always a favourite with international visitors — Visitors love the sunny tasting room at Cloudy bay

Cloudy Bay wine tasting and cellar door on Jackson road is always a favourite stop on the wine tour.

Cloudy Bay Marlborough Wine Pioneers

The winery is named after Cloudy Bay, a body of water explorer Captain James Cook came across during his voyage to New Zealand in 1770. Cloudy Bay work together with nature to transform and enhance its quality and obtain the pure, aromatic flavours of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. They also offer other varieties of amazing wines. As you enter the estate, you will see a beautiful building covered with virginia creeper giving the winery an established european feel.

Cloudy bay tasting room in winter is warm and inviting. Guests enjoy the open fire during the wine tasting. — Winter wine tasting inside the Cloudy bay tasting room

Group Wine Tasting inside Cloudy Bay Tasting room

The cellar door is spacious and inviting which is located at the winery itself, in the heart of the Marlborough wine region. Cloudy Bay is a beautiful place to enjoy a delicious glass of wine in a vast courtyard. The raw bar offers different treats that can excite your taste buds while enjoying their range of wines and the beautiful garden overlooking the vineyards. The green lawn is extensive, with huge shade trees interspersed. It is a great location for a family get-together, with ample room for the kids to run around. The view of the vineyards, with the mountains in the background, is absolutely breathtaking. It is the perfect place to chill, relax and create memorable moments with family and friends with their naturally beautiful surroundings. If you want a sophisticated and memorable experience, Cloudy Bay is definitely a place to visit.

Is Cloudy Bay worth the money?

This is a funny question but one I get asked alot. It has many facets so to keep it simple I will just say Yes. A wine is more than the contents of the bottle. It’s the memories and the emotion attached to that time. Cloudy bay has created a lot of memories for a lot of people. When they visit the tasting room people tell stories of drinking Cloudy bay with family or enjoying Cloudy bay at special restaurants. You can tell the brand is special to them.

Yes, I might be able to show them Sauvignon blanc that they enjoy, that are from little hand made vineyards. As they haven’t heard of them, and there is no history associated with these new vineyards. It creates a different experience. A new one! On a Marlborough Wine tour there is room for the new and the old. Finding new favourites to compare with the old favourites and making new memories.

Wine tasting at Cloudy Bay outside in the Courtyard. Everyone enjoys the famous Sauvignon Blanc. — Sitting outside in Summer provides beautiful views of the mountains, vineyards and gardens

Cloudy bay vineyard tasting

Hop n Grape Wine and Beer tours visits Cloudy Bay on request. We love the friendly staff and the beautiful tasting room. The Cloudy bay wine tasting includes 4 wines. The Sparkling Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. For someone looking for something special the Te Koko Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is one of my personal favourites.
To book your Marlborough Winery tour call us today.

For information on lunch at Saku Cloudy bay please read our blog on the top 5 winery restaurants in Marlborough. https://hopngrapetours.co.nz/5-best-winery-restaurants-in-marlborough/

Can we visit Cloudy Bay when we are in Marlborough?
Yes. Join a Gourmet Gold tour Hop n Grape and we pick you up from your accommodation and take you there. Book directly on our website.

Cloudy Bay Winery

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Visit Cloudy Bay’s Website

The Best Winery tour

12/06/2020 By Cameron Clarke

The best winery tour will take you inside the hidden gems of Marlborough.

How will you know you enjoyed the very Best winery tour?

There are over 40 wine tasting establishments in Marlborough. On a Full day Marlborough wine tour you will only have time to visit about 5 or 6 wineries (if anyone tells you that they will take you to more wineries than this, tell them, NO Thank-you!)

Making your Winery tour the very Best.

Wine tours are meant to be relaxing, fun and informative, with quality wines and not a rushed university pub crawl. The best winery tours in Marlborough don’t allow you to rush through, they want you to relax and immerse yourself into their ambiance.

With that in mind, we only have time to visit the best. At Hunters, the ambiance is either in their outdoor established garden or in winter its infront of their open fire. Wineries need more than great ambiance for us to stop on a wine tour. There is loads of brilliant wines in Marlborough. Even some of the large Wine producers can produce some decent quality wine. The reason we stop at the little family owned wineries like Hunters is more than their exquisite wine. Its their Passion. Its their staff and its their story.

Family owned and operated Vineyard and Winery

Hunter’s Wines is a fiercely independent, family-owned business with a very fine beginning. Its first vintage in 1982 achieved six medals at the National Wine Show. It was definitely a good start. At present, they have won more than 200 gold medals at different national and international wine competitions. They started the whole Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc international story. They remain innovative when it comes to new varietals, new winemaking processes and seeking the best for their wines.

Wine Tasting in tasting room and outdoor wine tasting in the Garden

Wine tastings inside their beautiful cellar door as well as in their picturesque gardens. Visitors have the option to wander through their native garden, visit their resident artist in his studio or stay in the Cellar Door garden with a glass or bottle of wine, paired with local and international artisan meats and cheeses. The cellar door hosts and the rest of the team are friendly and knowledgeable. They guide visitors with their award-winning wines and varietals. Even having the ability to retell the history of Hunter’s Wines. Hunters have a large variety of wines open for tasting every day from their popular Méthode Traditionelle Sparkling Wine MiruMiru™ to Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Noir and of course their world famous Sauvignon Blanc and Kaho Roa Sauvignon Blanc. It is the perfect place to relax and great way to enjoy the experience.

Do yourself a favour and book a tour so you can indulge and be taken to all the hidden gems in Marlborough.

Hunters Staff photo by Wine barrels — The family and winery team

Phone	0800 GR8 TOUR (478 868)
Email	info@hopngrapetours.co.nz