Martinborough guide | New Zealand wine route

Martinborough wine tasting guide

Just a short drive from the windy, artsy town of Wellington lies one of the most overlooked and underrated wine regions in the world. If you’re a pinot fan, this is spot is an absolute must go along the New Zealand wine route. The cool climate and alluvial gravel soil make this a perfect setting for growing top notch Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The town itself only houses 1,500 residents and has a square similar to Sonoma’s with several restaurants and bars dotted alongside. The best way to taste, like in Burgundy, is via bike. The route is relatively flat and the wineries are boutique, which means more wine per pedal.

Use our New Zealand wine driving route guide as the ultimate resource.

Where to stay

Swan House Martinborough is perfectly situated near the square and is run by Marie – an extremely sweet lady dedicated to bringing the perfect kiwi experience. There’s a lovely garden with hammocks for relaxing with a good book and free bikes on-site.

Where to taste

• Ata Rangi Vineyard: The most well known of the wineries here. Legend has it that the owner snuck onto La Tache vineyard in the Côte de Nuits and stole some clippings; after tasting these fantastically earthy ageable pinots, I don’t doubt it. After tasting the younger stuff, splurge for a library wine aged 10+ years–you won’t regret it.
• Haythornthwaite Wines: Similar to Ata Rangi, this producer picks a little later to get a bigger, badder tasting pinot as a result. It may not have the name of Ata Rangi, but the pinots are just as delicious. The garden patio is a nice environment to enjoy a flight on a warm day.
• Poppies: Different style than the first two–more fresh, fruit forward and young wines that are meant to be drank now, in the sun and not laid down in the cellar. They also boast one of the best charcuterie boards and rose; go here for a mid-day snack or lunch.
• Te Kairanga: Originally owned by Martinborough’s founder, John Martin, the tasting room is set on a 130+ year old cottage. The pinots are good here, but their small batch Riesling and Chardonnay are the true gems.
• Muirlea Rise: Very small production in a good location leading back to the main square. While the wine wasn’t a favorite compared to the other three, Muirlea has lots of potential. They are also experimenting with some homemade spirits which made for a nice change of pace towards the end of the day.

Where to eat

Fill up on Poppies’ famous charcuterie board for lunch and then hit the square for dinner; Cafe Medici and Cool Change Bar & Eatery are two picks that will not disappoint.

What else to do

Star gazing. In addition to having one of the best lands for pinot, Martinborough has frequent clear skies and minimal light pollution, offering a 180-degree viewing experience to the sky at night. Since you’ll likely have a car during your visit, we recommend spending at least a day in the neighboring city of Wellington, which has a cool hipster/artsy vibe.

When to go

Since this is a cool-climate region, winters are not especially welcoming. However, the weather starts to warm nicely around October and through the southern-hemisphere fall months. Since this location is still fairly under the radar, there won’t be many tourists to jostle with during the peak summer season. If you happen to be in the area in November, there is a festival called A Taste of Martinborough. We have this one pinned on our radar and it looks very similar to one that we attended in South Africa’s Hemel-en-Aarde region. Maybe we’ll see you there!