Marlborough Wine Region Tour from Picton: 4-5 Hours

You'll taste at four separate cellar doors, each one different, and still make it back to the ship on time.

A 4–5 hour wine tour from the Port of Picton with a local driver/guide takes you to three to four wineries in the Marlborough Wine Region, including tastings of award-winning Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The route returns you in time for your ship's scheduled departure. Port pickup and drop-off are included, and the guide speaks English. Lunch is at your own cost, though some wineries offer platters you can purchase at the table.

Step-by-step itinerary

Marlborough Wine Region Tour

• Depart from Port of Picton
• Visit Makana Boutique Chocolate Confections
• Wine tasting and optional lunch at winery
• Wine tasting with cheese and meat platters
• Wine tasting with boutique selections
• Explore local cafe, larder, and craft shops
• Enjoy scenic high top views of Marlborough
• Return to Picton for ship departure

The experience

The tour departs from the Port of Picton and moves through the Wairau Valley, stopping at a rotating selection of cellar doors. Each winery offers its own style: one focuses on low-alcohol options, another on boutique selections like Albarino, a third on the region's famous Sauvignon Blanc. Wine tastings are included at each stop. If time allows and you want it, cheese and meat platters are available to buy. The guide steers the route and timing so you're back at the port before your ship leaves.

The tour also includes a stop at Makana Boutique Chocolate Confections for generous tastings, and a scenic lookout over Picton Port and Queen Charlotte Sound on the return drive. A hub stop offers local fare (black garlic, chutneys, local cheeses and the region's Roots Gin) if you want to browse. The vehicle is air-conditioned and holds either six passengers (private van) or nine to eleven (shared minibus), depending on which you book.

Cruise ship passengers need to provide their ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at booking so the guide can time the return precisely. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller. Minimum drinking age is 18.

What’s included

• Wine tastings at three to four cellar doors.
• bottled water.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• local English-speaking guide.
• port pickup and drop-off at the designated point.
• a stop at Makana Boutique Chocolate Confections with tastings.
• a scenic lookout over Picton Port and Queen Charlotte Sound.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00Last departure this season: 30 Apr 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 6 years)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pamela March Trading As Your Local Chauffeur

Is this one for you?Choose the shared minibus to meet other travelers, or book the private van if your group prefers to stay together without mixing with others.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (7 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 6 years).

How many wineries do I visit on the Marlborough wine tour?

You visit three to four wineries, each offering different wine styles and tastings included in the tour price. The exact stops rotate, but they typically feature award-winning Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, plus options like low-alcohol wines and boutique selections.

What's included in the tour price and what do I pay extra for?

Wine tastings, bottled water, the air-conditioned vehicle, the local guide and port pickup and drop-off are all included. Lunch and any cheese, meat or seafood platters are at your own cost, though you can order them at the wineries while you taste.

Will the tour get me back to my cruise ship on time?

Yes, the guide times the entire route to return you to the Port of Picton before your ship's scheduled departure. When you book, provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time so the guide can plan accordingly.

Can I book a private van instead of a shared minibus?

Yes, the tour operates in both six-seat private vehicles and nine to eleven-seat shared minibuses. You choose which at checkout.

What is the Wairau Valley like, and what will I see from the scenic lookout?

The Wairau Valley is the heart of Marlborough's wine region, a landscape of vineyards stretching toward the coast. From the scenic high-top lookout on the return drive, you see the Pacific Ocean, Cloudy Bay, the expanse of vineyards along the coastline, and the surrounding hills: sometimes with snow-covered peaks or cloud formations in gold and green.