We will be driving from Nelson to Blenheim to Kaikoura and wish to visit a winery. Do you have any suggestions on where along that route is the best to stop for some NZ wine?

I think there's only one in Kaikoura and I haven't yet been, but I hope to visit there in August:

www.kaikourawinery.co.nz

Blenheim and Nelson/Motueka have loads of wineries - here are a few we like:

Blenheim:

Mud House
St Clair
Hunters
Wairau River
Prenzel Distillery (not a winery, but a fun stop)

Nelson/Motueka area:

Neudorf
Kahurangi
Siefried Estate
Waimea Estates
Stafford Lane
Grape Escape (great place with wine from three small wineries - Te Mania, Holmes and Richmond Plains Organic AND items from Prenzel's Distillery)

www.grapeescape.co.nz/

Oops... just realized I didn't answer your question about where along the route to stop.

I'd suggest picking up a wine map at the visitor's center in Nelson - they have a brochure that will help you plot your course.

There are two distinct wine areas near Nelson - The Waimea Plains and The Moutere Hills. The wineries on the Plains can be reached via #60/Appleby Highway. The wineries in the Hills can be reach via the Moutere Highway.

If you're actually staying IN Nelson and heading towards Blenheim, you'll need to backtrack a wee bit as most of the Nelson area wineries are located between Richmond, Nelson and Motueka, which is in the opposite direction of Blenheim (but it's not a long drive).

If you don't want to backtrack, suggest you just head towards Blenheim on SH6, as there are plenty of wineries that direction as well. On your way to Blenheim, you'll pass through Renwick, which has a concentration of wineries, so it's easy to visit more than one.

This site might be helpful:

http://www.wineart.co.nz/wineries.htm

Another wine question--- Where should we make our base for a 4-5 day visit to wineries in this area. We may also include some other "nature" activities. Would prefer to stay in the country as opposed to driving in and out of the "city" of Nelson. We are from the "other side of the road". Thanks

Zinfanatic -

You might consider staying between Nelson and Motueka - perhaps along Ruby Bay, near Mapua or Upper Moutere. We've stayed in this area many times as it's a great base for the wineries and easy to get to Nelson and to Abel Tasman from here.

There are oodles of unique lodging options to choose from as well - cottages, B&B,s, vineyard accommodation, houses, you name it. In the past we've stayed at The Old Schoolhouse near Tasman and at Almyra Villa in Mapua - I highly recommend both. This trip we're planning a three night stay in Maple Grove Cottage, which is located in the countryside of Upper Moutere.

Many, many options.

Zinfanatic -

BTW - Nelson isn't very big - easy to navigate, so don't worry too much about driving on the left.