The legendary and gorgeous Sauvignon blanc and Pinot Gris!

21 January – 23 January 2012

After spending our last night with Nick and Gretchen in Christchurch we hopped onto a bus to Blenheim. Blenheim is the main town in the Marlborough wine region, it is renowned for it’s white wine. Specifically the Pinot Gris, Sav’s and the Chardonnay’s. We went to Blenheim on our honeymoon in 2008 and hired bikes to visit all the vineyards, so it was a must hit again!

After checking in to our hostel (we were not happy after leaving the luxury of Nick and Gretchen’s) we again hired bikes and hit the wine trail. Our first stop was Lawson’s winery (which we had loved the last time), the highlight being their 2008 chardonnay, the 2010 Sav and the unusual un-oaked chardonnay. We were one bottle heavier (in the bag) and wobbled back on the bikes and headed off for Highfields. Highfields is set up higher on the hill and therefore has views overlooking the valley, we settled in for a cheese platter and a bottle of Rose in the sun. A perfect day!

Day 2 involved much of the same (but with rain) - we went to a total of 5 vineyards being: Cloudy Bay, Bouldevines, Fromm, Villa Maria and Wither Hills! Our favourites were of course the Bouldevines 2008 aged Chardonnay (we bought several when we were there in 2008), and the Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc 2011. It was surprising to taste Merlot and Shiraz from ‘Fromm’ as Marlborough is typically known for its whites, but the reds were subtle and not nearly as bold as the reds we were used to in Chile and Argentina! The most unusual (which we liked very much) was the oaked Sauvignon Blanc ‘TeKoko’ from Cloudy Bay…a bargain at $55 NZD (£26)

Unfortunately due to the heavy rain, lack of jackets (plus distance) we didn’t get to see the one winery we really wanted to visit, which was organic, called Serasin. Always another visit I suppose!!

Anyway, after two days of cycling and lots of wine in a party hostel we had to move-on (Monday 23rd) to Picton where we would get the ferry to Wellington in the North Island.  

All of the wines and vineyards on this blog have their wines sold in Majestic wines in the UK, So we implore you to go to your local Majestic and look for one of these wine makers they really are worth it as a special bottle of wine! It will be a little more expensive than the normal supermarket offers but its worth it, trust us we’re Winos!!!

Quick List:

These are some of the better wines we tasted from each of the wineries, the best we liked are in BOLD. But the others are amazing too!

Lawsons – 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay, 2009 un-oaked chardonnay, 2011 pinot gris

Highfields -  2010 Rose, 2008 Chardonnay, 2011 Sauvignon blanc

Cloudy Bay – 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 TeKoko Oaked Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay, 2009 Pinot Noir

Bouldevines – 2010 ‘Sprig’ and 209 Granite garden reserve Sauvignon Blancs, 2008 Chardonnay, 2011 pinot gris, 2008 Pinot noir,/\

Fromm -  2010 La strada Rose, 2008 La strada Pinot noir, 2009 La Strada Syrah and 2004 La Strada Malbec Reserve

Villa Maria -  2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay, 2010 pinot Gris, 2010 R&D Pinot gris, gewürztraminer and Vioigner, 2008 Pinot Noir from Hawkes Bay,

Witherhills – 2010 chardonnay, 2011 and 2010 Pinot Gris, 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 Pinot Noir