New Zealand · City Guide
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is New Zealand's most accessible wine region from Wellington, a beautiful agricultural valley of outstanding Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc vineyards, the charming Martinborough township with its wine village layout, excellent farm-to-table restaurants and the dramatic Putangirua Pinnacles. Just over an hour from Wellington by road, Wairarapa is an outstanding weekend destination and one of the finest small wine regions in the southern hemisphere.
Elect's take
"Wairarapa has a quality of wine and food culture that significantly exceeds what its scale suggests. The Martinborough wine village is beautifully conceived and the combination of excellent Pinot Noir, outstanding farm restaurants and the beautiful landscape creates a destination I find genuinely restorative."
Martinborough is the heart of Wairarapa wine country, a small town where the streets radiate from a central square like a Union Jack and the vineyards are concentrated within cycling distance of the township. Producers including Ata Rangi, Te Kairanga, Palliser and Craggy Range produce outstanding Pinot Noir that is considered among the finest in the country. The Martinborough Wine and Food Festival each November is outstanding. The Cape Palliser lighthouse and Putangirua Pinnacles, grey rock spires rising from the valley floor near the southern coastline, provide dramatic natural excursions. Greytown, a beautiful Victorian town, is excellent for boutique shopping.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
Martinborough Pinot Noir
Outstanding Pinot Noir from producers including Ata Rangi and Palliser Estate.
Farm-to-Table Dining
Excellent restaurants making outstanding use of Wairarapa's exceptional local produce.
Martinborough Wine Cycling
Winery cycling from the township to vineyards all within comfortable cycling distance.
Putangirua Pinnacles
Extraordinary grey rock spires rising from the valley near the southern coastline.
Greytown
A beautiful Victorian township of boutiques, cafés and excellent independent character.
Martinborough Wine Festival
One of New Zealand's most celebrated wine and food events held each November.
