Spring has arrived in Marlborough, and the vineyards are coming back to life. With longer days, fresh green vines and beautiful sunny weather, spring is a fantastic time to explore Marlborough’s world-famous wine region.

Whether you’re a Sauvignon Blanc lover, a red wine enthusiast or simply looking for a fun day out, a Marlborough wine tour is a wonderful way to experience the region.

At Hop n Grape Tours, we love showing visitors the best of Marlborough. Our small-group and private wine tours take you beyond the tasting room, giving you the chance to discover beautiful vineyards, meet passionate winemakers and taste some of the region’s finest wines.

Why Visit Marlborough in Spring?

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in Marlborough. The vines begin their new growth, the countryside becomes vibrant and green, and the warmer weather makes it perfect for exploring the vineyards.

It’s also a great time to enjoy the region before the busy summer season arrives.

A spring wine tour gives you the opportunity to:

• Discover wines beyond Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
• Explore beautiful Marlborough vineyards
• Taste award-winning New Zealand wines
• Discover boutique and family-owned wineries
• Enjoy local food at a vineyard restaurant
• Learn more about how Marlborough wine is made
• Take in stunning vineyard and mountain views

Taste More Than Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough is famous around the world for Sauvignon Blanc, and for good reason. But there is so much more to discover.

During a Marlborough wine tour, you can explore a variety of wine styles, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Méthode Traditionnelle sparkling wines.

If you prefer red wine, don’t worry — we can tailor your experience to include producers with excellent Pinot Noir and other red varieties.

And if you’re interested in trying something a little different, our guides can introduce you to smaller producers and interesting wines that you may not find back home.

Discover Boutique Wineries

One of the best things about exploring Marlborough with a local guide is discovering wineries beyond the well-known names.

Marlborough has many smaller producers where the experience can feel more personal and relaxed. You may have the opportunity to chat with knowledgeable cellar door hosts, hear the story behind the winery and learn what makes their wines unique.

For wine lovers looking for something different, we can also build an itinerary around boutique, organic or alternative wine producers, depending on availability.

For more on Boutique wineries please check out our Top 10 Boutique wineries.

Enjoy Lunch Among the Vines

Wine and food go hand in hand, and Marlborough has some wonderful vineyard restaurants where you can enjoy lunch surrounded by vines.

We can include a relaxed vineyard lunch featuring local and seasonal produce, paired with some of the region’s delicious wines.

It’s the perfect way to slow down during your day and enjoy the beautiful Marlborough landscape.

A Wine Tour Tailored to You

No two wine lovers are exactly the same.

Some guests want to visit famous Marlborough wineries. Others prefer small, family-owned producers. Some are passionate about Sauvignon Blanc, while others want to explore Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or sparkling wine.

That’s why we love tailoring our private Marlborough wine tours around our guests.

Tell us what you enjoy drinking, what you’d like to discover and whether there are any wineries you particularly want to visit. We’ll do our best to create an itinerary that suits you.

Why Choose Hop n Grape Tours?

Hop n Grape Tours is a locally owned Marlborough wine tour company with more than 12 years of experience showing visitors around the region.

Our guides have hands-on wine industry experience, so you’ll get more than just a ride between cellar doors. We love sharing the stories behind the wineries, the wines and the people who make Marlborough such a special wine region.

Whether you’re visiting Blenheim, Renwick or coming from Picton, we can help you make the most of your time in Marlborough.

Book Your Spring Marlborough Wine Tour

Spring is a beautiful time to visit Marlborough, and there’s no better way to experience the region than from the vineyards. If you are visiting in Winter please read more on Winter Wine tours here and for Autumn Wine tours here.

Come and enjoy great wine, beautiful scenery, local food and plenty of good company with Hop n Grape Tours.

Whether you’re travelling as a couple, with friends or as a small group, we’d love to show you around.

Ready to explore Marlborough this spring? More info on what to look for before you book please read this info. Book your wine tour with Hop n Grape Tours and let us create a memorable day among the vines.

If you have never been on a Marlborough wine tour before, you might be picturing something a bit intimidating. Swirling glasses, technical talk about tannins, everyone nodding along. You might quietly wonder if you are supposed to know more than you do. Here is the truth: you do not need to know anything about wine to have a brilliant day on tour with us. You just need to show up curious.

What makes a Hop n Grape day different is who is guiding it. Our guides are not people who read up on wine as a hobby. They work in it. Some have poured in cellar doors, some have worked vineyard harvests, some know the winemakers behind the labels personally. That means you hear stories that are not rehearsed facts. You get the kind of things you only pick up from actually being part of the industry.

Before You Arrive

Comfortable shoes are the main thing to think about, since some stops involve a short walk through the vineyard rows. Marlborough weather can shift through the day, so bring layers even in summer. Add sunscreen and a hat if the sun is out. Cellar doors provide a glass of water throughout the day, so there is no need to bring your own. Beyond that, just come as you are. There is no dress code and no need to arrive with any wine knowledge at all.

Pickup and the First Winery

Your Marlborough wine tour starts with pickup from your accommodation in Blenheim or Picton, right on schedule. The drive out to the first winery is usually when the group starts to relax. Your guide starts setting the scene, giving you a feel for the region before you even step out of the vehicle.

At the first stop, guides set the scene for the day, talking you through the story of Marlborough and the wine industry here. They point out things most visitors would never notice on their own, the kind of details a guidebook simply cannot give you. It might be why a particular block of vines faces a certain direction, or a small detail about how the season’s weather shaped that year’s harvest. Later in the tour, there is usually a chance to walk through a few vineyard rows as well, giving you a proper feel for the land behind the wine.

How Tastings Actually Work

This is usually where first timers relax the most, once they understand how it works. You do not need to finish every glass. Tipping the rest into the spittoon is completely normal, and plenty of experienced wine people do exactly that throughout the day so they can stay sharp for the next tasting. Your guide will talk you through what to look for in each wine, from the aroma to the finish. There is genuinely no wrong way to taste. If you like it, you like it. If you do not, that is useful information too, and it helps your guide steer you toward wines you will enjoy at the next stop.

Lunch and the Afternoon

Lunch is a highlight for most guests. We split our visits between Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen and Allan Scott Restaurant, both well loved spots right in the vineyards. After lunch, the afternoon usually continues with a couple more wineries, each with its own character. Depending on your tour, there may also be a stop at a chocolate factory to round things out.

Getting Home

By the time you arrive back at your accommodation, most guests feel relaxed and a little more confident about wine than they were that morning. Many are already talking about coming back to visit a favourite winery again. That is really the goal. Not to turn you into a wine expert in one day, but to give you a genuinely good time and a bit more understanding of what makes this region special.

Ready to experience a Marlborough wine tour for yourself? Browse our tours or get in touch, we would love to show you the region the way only people who work in it can.

Why a Local Winemaker Started Hop n Grape Tours

Most wine tours are run by drivers. Cameron started Hop n Grape Tours after five years of working at Mount Riley Wines here in Marlborough.

After leaving the winery, Cameron wanted to keep sharing his wine knowledge with visitors. He also wanted to offer experiences that other tour operators cannot easily provide.

Because Cameron has worked inside a winery, he understands what happens behind the cellar door. That experience continues to shape everything we do.

Our guides are wine-trained specialists. Some hold formal qualifications in winemaking or viticulture. Others bring years of hands-on experience from the wine industry.

As a result, we can take small groups behind the scenes of working wineries. Along the way, we explain what happens in the tanks, barrels and vineyards. You will learn much more than simply what you see on the label.

Recognised for It

Over the years, our guests have recognised our commitment to quality. Hop n Grape has received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence consistently since 2016.

In 2020, TripAdvisor named us a Traveller’s Choice Winner. This placed us among the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

Naturally, we are proud of these awards. More importantly, however, our guests’ feedback means even more to us.

Many visitors arrive expecting a standard bus tour. Instead, they leave with a much better understanding of Marlborough wine and the wines they have tasted.

A Full Day, Done Properly

Our Full Day Marlborough Wine Tour visits five wineries. The experience includes tasting fees for around 25 different wines.

Along with the tastings, guests enjoy a proper gourmet lunch at a vineyard restaurant. We also provide free pickup and drop-off around Blenheim and Renwick.

During the day, you will discover internationally recognised wineries alongside smaller, family-run cellar doors. Whenever possible, we also arrange a behind-the-scenes visit to a modern working winery.

This extra access gives you a glimpse into the winemaking process that most visitors never experience on their own.

For those who prefer something more personal, our Private Wine Tours offer complete flexibility.

For example, you might visit a local sheep farm with renowned Marlborough farmer Doug Avery. Alternatively, explore the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre or focus the day on your favourite wine varieties.

Whatever your interests, we tailor the experience around what you enjoy.

Ready to Experience It Yourself?

If you want a wine tour led by someone who has actually made wine, rather than simply driven a van between cellar doors, Hop n Grape Tours is ready to welcome you.

Choose from our Full Day, Half Day or Private Wine Tours. Along the way, meet local winemakers, explore Marlborough’s famous wine region and discover the stories behind the wines.

So, if you’re ready to experience Marlborough through the eyes of people who know wine from the inside out, book your wine tour with Hop n Grape Tours today.

Book Your Wine Adventure