10 Best Sights in Upper South Island and the West Coast, New Zealand

Jane Hunter is an internationally respected winemaker and a pioneer of wine making in Marlborough. A visit to her wine cellar, a restored old farm house, is a delight. You can also savor wine with an artisan cheese and meat board in the 5-acre garden, an environmental showpiece for the rare native plants it protects. There’s also a regular artist-in-residence. Famous Hunter wines include the Kaho Roa (oak-aged sauvignon blanc), pinot noir, and the Miru Miru (Māori for "bubbles").

One of the most respected Marlborough winemakers, Allan Scott launched his own company in 1990, and his whole family is now involved in the business. They make well-respected sauvignon blancs, chardonnays, pinot gris, pinot noirs, methode traditionelle (try the Blanc de Blancs), gewürztraminers, and rieslings (the last two are particularly good). The cellar door adjoins the indoor–outdoor Allan Scott Bistro, which opens out to a delightful herb garden. Marlborough salmon fillet and seafood chowder are menu classics (open for lunch only, closed in winter).

This estate is worth a visit not only for its history (the region's first sauvignon blanc grapes were planted here), but also for the striking views across Wairau Valley, the excellent restaurant (lunch only), and, of course, the wines. Both the sauvignon blanc and pinot noir have merit. Brancott also supports preservation of the rare New Zealand falcon (which helps vineyards by keeping the mice at bay). A Living Land Falcon Encounter is offered here. You can also take a guided cycle tour through the vineyard.

Since its first vintage in 1985, Cloudy Bay has produced first-class sauvignon blanc, along with a range that includes an equally impressive Pelorus sparkling, chardonnays, pinot noirs, rieslings, pinot gris, gewürztraminers, and its unique barrel-aged Sauvignon Te Koko. Various tasting options are available, as are small plates of seasonal cuisine. Relax in the restful courtyard, or dine alfresco at Jack's Raw Bar, which offers clams and oysters matched with house wines.

Terroir over technology is the mantra at Fromm, one of Marlborough's smaller wineries known for its organic, sustainable growing principles. All grapes are handpicked. Fromm pioneered the local use of pinot noir and is also known for syrah, malbec, and merlot reserves. Visitors can enjoy cheese and meat platters with their tastings.

This boutique winery (formerly known as Kahurangi Vineyards), in the small village of Upper Moutere, was one of the region's first, developed by Hermann Seifried in the 1970s. Greg and Amanda Day now produce a good range of riesling, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and pinot noir under the exclusive Heaphy label. The cellar door is open all year for wine tastings with a range of Italian-style pizzas and platters to enjoy in the courtyard or banquet room during weekends or public holidays.

Sitting high on the Brookby Ridge, with spectacular views over the Wairau Plains, this winery is marked by a Tuscany-inspired tower that visitors are welcome to climb. Highfield produces first-class sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, chardonnay, and riesling; their best, however, is a sparkling Elstree Cuvée Brut. You can relax and enjoy this magnificent setting in the Mediterranean-style Highfield Terra Vin Vineyard Restaurant, which opens for lunch daily.

Despite its tiny size, Neudorf has established an international reputation for its pinot noir, and chardonnay. Riesling, pinot gris, and sauvignon blanc are also highly regarded. The top wines wear the Moutere designation on the label, as the winery is in the Moutere Valley surrounded by acres of vineyards and hop gardens. The Moutere Chardonnay is regarded as the vineyard's signature wine. Artisan cheeses are served in summer, and they also stock olives, cheese, and oat crackers in the small deli to enjoy on the lovely grounds.

Phil and Chris Rose were among the first grape growers in the region, starting in 1978. Now the second generation of family helps produce award-winning sauvignon blanc and other excellent varietals under their own Wairau Valley label. The winery building is made from mud bricks and has two log fires in winter; in summer, you can relax on the sun-drenched lawns. Local produce features in the lunch restaurant adjacent to the cellar door. It’s popular with the locals, so reservations are recommended.

From this impressive, three-story edifice of river rock, tiles, concrete, and wood, there’s a commanding view across the Wairau Valley and the Wither Hills. Tastings include award-winning sauvignon blancs and rieslings. At the popular winery restaurant, guests can relax at alfresco tables, lounge on beanbags on the lawn, or opt for more formal seating inside. A "wine library" consists of vines of wine grape varieties grown in New Zealand—30 of them lined up across the front of the winery.