A MOMENT IN
MARLBOROUGH
A trip to New Zealand’s Marlborough region o ers a whole tasting paddle
ofboutiquehospitality,adventure,food,andworld-classsauvignonblanc.A Gourmet Traveller promotion
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TASTE THE REGION AT HOME
Yealands Estate
vineyards.
Below: a seasonal
dish from Arbour;
the view over Queen
Charlotte SoundL
and, soil and sea. Vines and valleys. It’s hard to find a place
that elevates and celebrates these earthly delights more than
New Zealand’s largest wine growing region: Marlborough.
World-renowned for its sauvignon blanc, first planted in the region
more than 40 years ago. Today, Marlborough accounts for three-quarters
of New Zealand’s wine industry. Crisp, pure and with a beautiful
richness on the palate – a glass of sauvignon blanc from the comfort
of your own home is an express ticket to the pristine region. But your
glass is only half-full. Let’s stock the cellar with a bounty of other
food and travel experiences unique to Marlborough.EAT: Arbour
Eat, sip and gather: these are the golden rules of Arbour, a hyper-local
restaurant from one of Marlborough’s star chefs, Bradley Hornby.
To eat: seasonal plates such as hapuka with a tart green-apple dashi,
and chilli-flecked agnolotti with smoked curd and walnuts. And to sip?
A choice of close to 30 Marlborough sauvignon blancs, naturally,
such as the much-lauded Giesen and Villa Maria.
Gather and enjoy. arbour.co.nzDRINK: Sauvignon Blanc
With more than 150 vineyards and 37 cellar doors in
the region, you’re truly spoilt for choice when it comes
to choosing a watering hole. Start with the award-
winning sauvignons from wineries such as Te Whare
Ra, Cloudy Bay and Yealands Estate, before exploring
less conventional expressions from producers such as
Mahi, Eaton and Seresin. twrwines.co.nz; cloudybay.co.nz;
yealands.co.nz; mahiwine.co.nz; eatonwines.nz; seresin.co.nzPLAY: Odyssea Cruises
If you want to experience the Marlborough Sounds
from the water, board the luxury MV Odyssea launch
for an experience to remember. Linger over a local
seafood lunch prepared on board and matched with
Marlborough wines, all while enjoying the plethora
of native bird, marine and wildlife the Sounds are
renowned for. marlboroughtourcompany.co.nzSTAY: Marlborough Lodge
Built in 1901 as a convent for the Sisters of Mercy,
these days the Marlborough Lodge is a luxurious
10-suite boutique hotel. Amble from Harvest, the
onsite restaurant, to the Chapel-turned-wine room
for a private tasting. themarlboroughlodge.co.nz- Join the locals at the Marlborough Farmers
Market on Sundays, from 9am. Go for the
“tree-to-table” hazelnut butter, stay for
the live music and great co ee.
marlboroughfarmersmarket.org.nz - Pack your hiking boots and walk the
Queen Charlotte Track with Wilderness
Guides. wildernessguidesnz.com - Need a break from wine? Craft breweries
Moa and Renaissance make stellar
Belgian-style sours, ciders from
New Zealand-grown apples and even
stout that’s aged in ex-pinot noir barrels.
moabeer.com, renaissancebrewing.co.nz
Marlborough sauvignon blanc goes
beautifully with fresh Australian dishes,
including seafood. Look out for Oyster Bay
Sauvignon Blanc, Invivo X SJP Sauvignon
Blanc, Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Tohu
Sauvignon Blanc (the world’s fi rst Maori
owned wine business), Jules Taylor or
Saint Clair labels at your local wine stockist.