If you think New Zealand wine country is just about swirling Sauvignon Blanc, you’re missing half the fun—and most of the soul. Vogue’s Nicole Kliest captures it perfectly: a place where the cellar door might be a literal door, the winemaker might answer his own phone, and your tasting might be preceded by an ATV ride through a sheep paddock. In other words: this is wine travel that’s both world-class and wonderfully, charmingly human.
Case in point, Kliest recounts ringing a natural winemaker whose cellar door was unexpectedly closed. His response? “Ah mate, I wasn’t planning on it today I’m out on the tractor,” (Vogue, Nicole Kliest). That’s the vibe—laid-back, land-first, and refreshingly unscripted. As her husband sums it up: “so kiwi.” (Vogue, Nicole Kliest)
Beyond the endearing moments, New Zealand backs it up with serious terroir muscle. The piece moves north to south and starts with Northland, the country’s first vine destination and its warmest growing region. Peter Jones of The Landing (and chairman of Northland Winegrowers) lays out the why: “This makes it uniquely suited to ripening a wide range of grape varieties,” (Peter Jones via Vogue). He doubles down on the climate edge: “Warm spring temperatures, hot dry summers, and calm autumn days mean fruit ripens early,” (Peter Jones via Vogue). Translation: expect generous, full-bodied styles—think Chardonnay that isn’t shy and Syrah with coastal swagger.
Heading south, Martinborough brings that small-town, big-Pinot energy. It’s a place where you can bike between cellar doors, meet the people behind the labels, and remember why you fell in love with wine in the first place. The casual familiarity Kliest describes—the farmer-winemaker balancing vineyard work with hosting—speaks to a region that values craftsmanship over theater.
Marlborough, of course, is the global headline for Sauvignon Blanc, but don’t treat it like a one-grape town. Once you’re past the gooseberry-and-passionfruit calling card, you’ll find textural Sauvignon, silken Pinot Noir, and sparkling experiments that keep things interesting. Pair a glass with a lakeside trail ride and you’ll understand the country’s unofficial pairing: high-acid whites + high-adrenaline views.
And then there’s Central Otago—dramatic landscapes, glacial histories, and Pinot Noir that can move you from bright and brambly to brooding and structured without losing its cool. It’s the region that makes you pack both a fleece and a stemless glass, and it’s also where the sense of adventure becomes part of the tasting note. If a suspension bridge bike ride shows up in your day, just go with it.
So how do you sip like a local without over-engineering the trip? A few lightly sanded tips from the DrinkingVino deck:
- Call ahead—and be chill: New Zealand is famously personal. If the winemaker’s on a tractor, that’s not just a story; it’s a lifestyle.
- Let the climate lead: In Northland, embrace ripeness and power. Down south, expect cooler nights and fresher line work in the wines.
- Mix tastings with trails: The country shines when you pair cellar doors with coastline hikes, riverbank rides, and black sand beach picnics.
- Explore beyond the obvious: Marlborough deserves more than a quick Sauvignon flight. Seek out alternative varieties and small producers.
- Talk to people: The best intel often comes from the person pouring your glass. New Zealand’s hospitality is half the magic.
Kliest’s monthlong road trip reminds us that wine travel, done right, is about place first and palate second. You taste the dedication to the land in every interaction—whether it’s a spontaneous tasting, a late-night kiwi-bird hunt, or a bottle tracked down at a local shop because the story behind it made dinner taste better. That’s the kind of authenticity you can’t fake, and it’s why New Zealand sits high on the global wine-travel leaderboard.
Bottom line: come for the landscapes, stay for the people, and let the wines connect the two. If your tasting itinerary goes slightly off-road—literally or figuratively—you’re doing it right. Pack curiosity, sturdy shoes, and an appetite for adventure. The rest will follow, tractor and all.
Original author: Nicole Kliest (Vogue)
Source: https://www.vogue.com/article/best-wine-tasting-new-zealand
