Marlborough is New Zealand’s premier wine growing region – home to the famous Sauvignon Blanc and the greatest number of wine producing vineyards in the country.
About Marlborough Vineyards
Wine in the Marlborough region all started in 1873 when Scotsman David Herd planted the first grapes. From there, commercial wine production became a growing, booming economy and today makes up around 2/3 of the total number of vines in New Zealand.
General Statistics of Marlborough’s Vineyards
In 2018, Marlborough vineyards were made up of 2:
- 510 wine growers
- 141 wine producing companies
- 26,007 hectares of vineyards
- 313,038 tonnes of wine produced
- Sauvignon Blanc made up 269,411 tonnes, or 86.1% share
- Pinot Noir came in a distant second at 18,739 tonnes, or 6% share
- Pinot Gris and Chardonnay came in third with 3.6% share
Value Statistics of Marlborough’s Vineyards
In 2016, the Marlborough wine sector 1:
- Was valued at 477 million for the GDP
- Represented 19% of the total Marlborough economy
- Created 2,350 direct jobs, with a total of 4850 associated jobs, making up some 10% of the total employment in Marlborough
Learn More about Marlborough Wine Production
If you’d like to learn more about wine production in Marlborough and explore some of the best Marlborough vineyards, then join our team on a wine tour.
Our local tour guides love their job, and know a lot about wine production in Marlborough. You’ll learn lots about how the grapes are grown in the vineyards through to their production and storage in the cellars, without even realising you are learning!
We’re all about the delicious taste sensations, combined with a lot of fun and learning.
We pick you up from your accommodation in the Blenheim region (or for a small extra fee from the Picton or Havelock townships) and drop you back there after completing your wine tour.
Marlborough Wines You Might Try
With each of our Marlborough wine tours we try lots of the varieties of wine that Marlborough has to offer. Sauvignon Blanc is a popular choice, however there are many more. Some of the fantastic wines Marlborough vineyards produce include:
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Noir
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Gertwurztraminer
- Chardonnay
- Merlot
- Delicious dessert wine
- And many others!
All the wines produced by Marlborough vineyards are of a high standard. Have a look at some of the Marlborough wineries we might visit.
Drinking age in New Zealand is 18 years of age. Passport or Drivers Licence is required if you look under 25.
1 Source: http://www.wine-marlborough.co.nz/about-marlborough/economic-contribution-of-the-wine-sector/
2 Source: http://www.wine-marlborough.co.nz/about-marlborough/key-statistics/
