9 Best Sights in Blenheim, Upper South Island and the West Coast

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").

War stories are brought to life with actual historic planes placed in settings dramatized by New Zealand's Oscar-winning special-effects teams Weta Digital and Wingnut Films. The planes are from famed director Sir Peter Jackson's collection. World War I–era planes, and the stories of their pilots, are showcased in the Knights of the Sky exhibition. Dangerous Skies focuses on aviation development during World War II. There's also a café and shop.

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, méthode traditionelle (try the Blanc de Blancs), gewürztraminers, and rieslings (the last two are particularly good). Special machines give access to 24 different wines, which are paid for at the end of the tour. 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). 

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. 

Vineyard owners Neal and Judy Ibbotson are viticulture pioneers within Marlborough. Judy planted the first vineyard in 1978, which was one of the first within the Marlborough region. Over the last 30 years, they have been developing a huge variety of award-winning wines, from classics to a variety of unique blends and reserves from the old pioneer block. The cellar door and restaurant are all-in-one. Order from the gourmet menu and bask in the sun of the courtyard while overlooking the Marlborough plains. 

This sustainable winery is located near an international satellite communication station, in the shape of a giant sphere—hence the name. James Bond memorabilia is scattered about the winery, and Morse code is used on its bottles and even the side of its building. The sweeping sights of the valley and ranges are fantastic, so if it's views you're after, look no further. With a big focus on protecting the ecology and having as little impact on the earth as possible, you'll find the staff knowledgeable and informative. Enjoy a cheese platter of local ingredients with your tasting. 

These artisan shops showcase wines alongside olive oils, fudge, homeware, quilts, ceramics, glassware, jewelry, and recipe books. There's also a new Whisky and Tasting store, and a Roots Gin Shack. Dine in the café, let the kids loose in the playground, or you can all just relax in the tranquil lakeside grounds.

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 and enjoy gourmet cuisine. 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.