South Island Gourmet Food and Wine Adventures
New Zealand has long been famous for its stunning scenery, and now its award-winning wine industry has earned it a place as one of the world’s leading wine and food destinations. Whether you’re driving yourself on a gourmet adventure or joining a guided wine and food tour, there are plenty of options to tempt your tastebuds. Sample the local gourmet treats, dine alfresco among the vines, and take time to enjoy the culture and hospitality of the Kiwis you meet along the way.
Marlborough
New Zealand's largest winemaking region is a paradise for wine and food lovers, and the magnificent scenery of the bush-clad
Marlborough Sounds means there are plenty of outdoor experiences to enjoy as well. Marlborough is world famous for its herbaceous sauvignon blanc, but just about every variety is made by the region’s 60-plus wineries including some fine methode traditionelle wines. Go touring around
Blenheim area, Wairau Plain, the Awatere Valley, and south to
Kaikoura, and be sure to combine the award-winning drops with some of the region’s delicious seasonal produce. You’ll find everything from cherries, olives and stone fruit to fresh seafood including crayfish, blue cod, snapper, salmon, scallops and the local greenshell mussels. Marlborough is the end (or the start) of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail which links
Hawke’s Bay,
Tararua,
Wairarapa,
Wellington and Marlborough.
Nelson
Nelson is often overshadowed by its famous neighbour, Marlborough, but it’s one of New Zealand’s fastest growing wine regions, and produces some great chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and riesling. You'll find world-class wineries, stunning national parks, thriving crafts and beautiful beaches right on the city doorstep.The lovely countryside of Nelson Region and the spectacular winery settings make it one of the country’s most scenic wine trails. Combine that with the delicious fresh seafood that’s a hallmark of the Nelson region, and it all adds up to a superb wine and food experience.
Waipara Valley
About an hour’s drive north of Christchurch, Canterbury’s premier wine region is nestled in the Teviotdale Hills. The free-draining local soils and hot summers are well suited to pinot noir, riesling, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay, and there are some wonderful wines to sample. Gourmet wine and food tours visit artisans at work and allow you to taste their products, including farmhouse cheeses, salmon, breads, handmade chocolates, olive products, honey, cider, mead and wines. The popular Waipara Valley Farmers Market is held every Saturday rain, hail or shine, at the Pegasus Bay Winery in Stockgrove Road, from 21 October to 28 April. You’ll find all types of produce, from asparagus, strawberries and salad greens to olive oil, bread and lamb.
Central Otago
The vineyards in this historic goldrush region enjoy some of the most breathtaking locations in the world, making it a real treat for gourmet travellers. Central Otago is New Zealand’s highest wine region and the long hot summers and dry autumns are ideal for pinot noir, pinot gris and riesling. There are four key areas to explore – Gibbston Valley, Cromwell/Bannockburn, Wanaka and Alexandra, and en route you’ll be able to the orchards and sample the sun-ripened stone fruits and berries for which the region is famous. Keep an eye out for the roadside orchard stalls, which sell a huge range of fruit, along with tasty homemade preserves and fresh vegetables. The Central Otago Farmers Market, in historic Old Cromwell Town, is another good port of call, with local cheeses, pheasant, olive oil, saffron, fresh fish, whitebait, venison salami, fresh sausages, herbs and salads, and flowers. The market runs from 5 November to 18 March every first and third Sunday (during December and January it is held every Sunday).
More information
Images courtesy of Tourism Central Otago