Marlborough wines started with early pioneers planting in late 1800. The area didn’t start to flourish till 1973 with its now world famous Sauvignon Blanc . Marlborough has over 20,000ha of vines (approximately 2/3 of the national total), mostly Sauvignon Blanc followed by Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and then Aromatics.

Marlborough is one of NZ’s sunniest and driest regions. The combination of a cool yet high sunshine climate, low rainfall and free-draining, moderately fertile soil produces uniquely vivid wines across a wide range of varieties and styles.

Marlborough has some of the freshest produce in all of New Zealand, from many seafood varieties such as salmon, Marlborough mussels, blue cod, paua, butterfish & crayfish. Marlborough also produces beautiful cherries, stone fruit, apples, berries, award-winning olive oils, rich honey, artisan cheeses and some of the best meats and bacon, the list is endless!

Escape to Picton is a boutique hotel & restaurant in Picton, New Zealand. The hotel is enviably sited by the town’s waterfront, overlooking the marina.

Within a stone’s throw are regular boating tours of the Marlborough Sounds, and connections to the famous Queen Charlotte walking track. A mere 20-minute drive separates us from the seemingly endless vineyards of the Wairau and Awatere valleys, and the remarkable wineries dotted among them.