Full Day Marlborough Wine Tour: 4–6 Wineries with Lunch Stop

Taste across Marlborough's valleys with a winemaker who knows the region's terroir.

A full-day Marlborough wine tour from Blenheim with a winemaker or local guide visiting 4–6 wineries across the Wairau and Awatere Valleys, including lunch at a vineyard restaurant and all cellar door tastings. Free pickup and drop-off from Blenheim or Renwick. The tour lasts 6.5 hours and moves between established producers and small family-run cellar doors, with the option to visit a local brewery or chocolate factory depending on group preference.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Marlborough wine tour

• Pickup from Picton or Blenheim
• Visit Lawson's Dry Hills winery
• Visit Framingham winery
• Visit Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen
• Lunch at a winery restaurant
• Visit Makana Chocolate Factory
• Visit local DNA brewery or Ant Moore wines

The experience

Your guide is a winemaker or local legend who starts the day with a vineyard stroll. The kind where you can ask the questions that matter and get real answers about how the wines are made. The tour visits 4–6 wineries across the region, and you choose the stops based on what you want to taste. Lawson's Dry Hills draws fruit from multiple valleys and keeps its cellar door relaxed, often pouring reserve and limited releases alongside the core range. Framingham, one of Marlborough's original families, specializes in aromatics: Riesling and Gewürztraminer alongside the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Saint Clair sits among the vines with its own restaurant kitchen, built around seasonal produce. If beer interests you more than wine on a given day, the guide can finish at DNA brewery instead, where the hand-crafted beers are award-winning.

Lunch happens at a vineyard restaurant: a proper sit-down meal, though you pay for it separately. The Makana Chocolate Factory is often a stop too, a chance to watch handmade chocolates being made by hand and take home a box if you want. The drive between stops shows you the contrast: the sunny Wairau Valley floor where most of the region's 150 wineries sit, then the mountains that frame it. All wine tastings are included; the vehicle is air-conditioned; pickup and drop-off from Blenheim or Renwick areas are free.

Picton is also a pickup point if you're arriving by ferry from Wellington. From there it's a short scenic drive into the wine country, and your guide will point out the best restaurants and spots in Picton itself on the way through. The full day gives you time to understand why Marlborough is famous, not just for Sauvignon Blanc, but for the range of wines the region genuinely produces, and the way the terroir changes between the valleys.

What’s included

• All wine tastings at cellar doors.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• free pickup and drop-off from Blenheim or Renwick.
• a stop at a vineyard restaurant for lunch (meal cost separate).
• the option to visit Makana Chocolate Factory or a local brewery depending on group preference.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Hop n Grape Tours

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English and is a winemaker or local with real knowledge of the region's terroir and producers. This is a tour for anyone who wants to understand Marlborough's wines, not just taste them quickly. The full 6.5 hours and visits to 4–6 wineries give you time to move at a proper pace and ask questions that matter, rather than rushing through a highlight reel.

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Top questions

Can I visit Cloudy Bay or Fromm on this tour?

Cloudy Bay, Fromm, and Hans Herzog are not included on the Full Day Winemakers Tour. If one of those is essential to your day, the Gourmet Gold Tour or a Private Wine Tour can be arranged instead.

What happens if I don't want to taste wine the whole day?

The tour is flexible with group preferences. If you'd rather taste beer, the guide can finish at DNA brewery, which makes award-winning hand-crafted beers and also stocks Ant Moore wines if you want to switch back.

Do I need to pay for lunch, or is it included?

Lunch at the vineyard restaurant is a stop on the tour, but you pay for your meal separately. All wine tastings at the cellar doors are included in the tour price.

How long does the tour take, and when does it start?

The full-day tour runs 6.5 hours. Pickup from Blenheim or Renwick is free. If you're staying in Picton, pickup can be arranged there as well, though additional charges may apply for locations like Havelock or Rarangi.

What makes Lawson's Dry Hills different from other stops?

Lawson's Dry Hills draws fruit from multiple valleys across Marlborough rather than a single site, which gives their wines flexibility and a genuine sense of place. The cellar door is lined with gold medals and often pours reserve or limited release wines alongside the main range in a warm, relaxed setting.

Is there anything to do besides wine tasting?

Yes. The Makana Chocolate Factory is a regular stop where you can watch handmade chocolates being crafted and get free samples. If beer is more your speed, DNA brewery is an option. Lunch at a vineyard restaurant is also part of the day's rhythm.