Martinborough – Wellington’s Wine Region

2020: The Year of the Covid-19 Pandemic. New Zealanders have done better than most when it comes to eradicating the virus, and this means we will be landlocked for sometime. Not to worry, this country has some amazing domestic spots.

My previous post about Martinborough explained what my partner and I did & saw over a long weekend. This time around I want to recap the boutique vineyards we hope to visit again very soon.

Also known as the Wairarapa Wine Country, the first grapes planted in this region were in 1883. After prohibition in 1908 the area didn’t see a revival until the 1980’s. Found to have terroir similar to that of Burgundy, Pinot Noir is the grape of choice.

Before you start your wine tour of Wairarapa be sure to rent a bike from Green Jersey Explorer Tours. Mark and I rented individual bikes one day & got a tandem bike the second day. They also offer multi-person bikes!

The best part of this service: no matter what vineyard you buy wine from in Martinborough, simply give them your bike number and your wines will be waiting at Green Jersey when you return.

One of the first stops on our loop was Brodie Estate Vineyard. This was one of our favorites as it had amazing picnic areas within the vines.

Next up, and closest to our Airbnb was Colombo. Offering tapas in a small intimate tasting room, we bought 2 bottles to take home with us.

Luna Estate was at the next crossroad. This is a larger vineyard with a modern kitchen & dining area. Do note the tasting room is at the bottom of a hill and you are not allowed to bike down… you must walk down and up.

Next door was Poppies Martinborough. My personal favorite because of its simple yet elegant shed, Poppy makes the wine while Shayne grows the grapes. This is a top spot so if you want a table but do book beforehand.

Vynfields Organic Wine is Southwest from Poppies, off the main road and down a side street. Inside an old manor home we got a tasting and decided on a glass of bubbles. We then sat at a picnic table, enjoyed the nature & some cheese and crackers we got from the local supermarket.

Te Kairanga, or famously known for their “TK” logo was in the other direction from Poppies. Tastings are held in an old farm cottage owned by John Martin, founder of Martinborough. We lucked out as the grounds to this vineyard hosts a local farmers market every Sunday. We tasted some local olive oil, Olivo Olive Oil, and browsed local jewelers.

Heading closer back to town we stopped by Cambridge Road. Another organic maker, these winemakers also brew beer & cider. With lots of outdoor games for kids and adults, this was a very busy field of activity.

Muirlea Rise is a truly family owned & operated vineyard. With a warm welcome from the dogs, this small but quaint cellar door is exciting as it gives you access to see behind the scenes.

Furthest from town, Coney Wines is 7k south from the center of Martinborough village. Friends of ours got married here as they love live bands and have an amazing enclosed garden.

Even though this is a wine region, don’t forget to check out what is on tap at Martinborough Brewery.

Other notable vineyards include:

• Palliser Estate
• Schubert Wines
• Escarpment Vineyard

TIP: To learn more about this region, and all NZ’s wine areas, grab a copy of Lonely Planet Food: Wine Trails Australia & New Zealand

What is your favorite kind of wine and why?