9 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, 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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.