marlborough

Some of the best wines from New Zealand come from this wine region. Although some vines were planted by settlers as early as the 1870s, commercial viticulture in Marlborough did not begin until the 1970s. Auckland-based wine producer Montana (now Brancott Estate) explored the area and purchased its first land there. The first large vineyards were planted in 1973, and despite initial problems with the region’s dry soils and strong winds, Marlborough wines were making a name for themselves by the early 1980s.

Today, Marlborough encompasses more than 27,000 hectares of vineyards and is by far the most important wine region in New Zealand. It is located on the northeastern tip of the South Island and is home to more than 500 winemakers. More than three quarters of all New Zealand wines come from this dry, sunny wine region.