Marlborough: Wine Tasting Day Tour with Pickup & Lunch

Summary

Marlborough wine tasting day trip with lunch and pickup

You’ll start your Marlborough wine tour with hotel pickup in Picton or Blenheim, tasting local wines at five cellar doors with stories from real winemakers. Enjoy lunch among the vines at Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen and let someone else do the driving while you soak up flavors, laughter, and vineyard views you might remember longer than you expect.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed stepping out in Blenheim — it’s that kind of crisp air that smells faintly like grass and something sweet, maybe grape skins? Our guide, Dave, waved from the van (he had this sun-faded hat that made him look like he belonged here), and we all piled in. No one was in a rush. There’s something about driving past those endless rows of vines under big New Zealand sky that makes you just… slow down. I kept trying to count the shades of green but gave up after a while.

We hit our first cellar door before 11. The woman pouring for us — I think her name was Miriama — told us about how Marlborough sauvignon blanc is different because of the soil here. She let us sniff the empty glass after tasting, which sounds weird but honestly, it’s like the wine sticks around in your nose. At every stop, we tried at least four different wines; some fruity, some sharp, one that tasted a bit like passionfruit and grass (in a good way). I never thought I’d say “gooseberry” out loud describing a drink but there you go.

Lunch was at Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen. We sat outside by the vines — there was this soft wind and the clink of glasses from another table. My plate looked almost too pretty to eat (almost). The bread had this chewy crust and there was olive oil so green it looked fake. Someone at our table tried to pronounce “Gewürztraminer” and Li laughed so hard she nearly spilled her glass. Honestly, by then everyone felt like old friends even though we’d just met that morning.

I kept thinking how easy everything felt — no worrying about driving or where to go next since Dave handled it all. He even asked if anyone had requests for certain wineries since apparently they mix up the route depending on who’s along for the ride. By the time we rolled back into town late afternoon, my phone was full of blurry vineyard photos and I still had that taste of sunshine-in-a-glass lingering. If you’re looking for a Marlborough wine tour with actual people and not just checklists, this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marlborough wine tasting and lunch

• Visit multiple Marlborough wineries
• Sample at least 4 wines per cellar
• Enjoy lunch at Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen
• Relax with wine tasting in the vines

Top questions

How many wineries do you visit on this Marlborough wine tour?

The tour usually visits five different cellar doors for tastings.

Is lunch included on the Marlborough wine tasting day trip?

Yes, lunch is included and usually served at Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, door-to-door hotel pickup is included from central Picton or Blenheim.

Can I request specific wineries on this tour?

You can request specific wineries before your tour; they try to accommodate outside peak times.

Are cruise ship passengers able to join this Marlborough wine tour?

No, cruise ship passengers should book shore excursion tours instead due to timing issues.

What time does the Marlborough wine tour start?

The tour starts at 9:30am from Picton or 10am from Blenheim (central locations).

How many wines do you taste at each winery?

You sample at least four wines at each cellar door during the tour.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from central Picton or Blenheim (just let them know where), all wine tastings across five cellar doors, air-conditioned transport between stops, plus a relaxed lunch among the vines before heading back in the afternoon.