5 To 6 Hour Full-Day Tour

Marlborough: Full-Day Wine Tour 5-6 hours

★ 5.0 4 reviews

from $154 per person

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Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Meeting point: Blenheim
Cancellation: Every tour here can be cancelled free
Run by: Discovery Wine Tours of Marlborough

Overview

Discovery Wine Tours of Marlborough runs this full-day loop from Blenheim, collecting guests from their accommodation between 10:15 and 10:30 AM and dropping them back between 4:30 and 5:30 PM. Over roughly five to six hours the van moves between four or five cellar doors, with all standard tasting fees covered by the tour price. Tastings feature Single Vineyard, Reserve and top-flight Marlborough wines.

The shape of the day is simple. Two tastings come first, then a long lunch stop of about 105 minutes at a vineyard restaurant, the DNA Brewery Fancy Cow, or the Small Town Winery setup, where guests choose an à la carte lunch, a brewery paddle, or a glass of wine paid directly to the venue. Afternoon brings one more cellar door visit plus a short food tasting, then the drive back. Along the way the guide covers the region's history, its pioneering winemakers and the industry that made Marlborough famous.

It suits travellers who want a structured day with someone else driving. One reviewer liked that the tour favoured quality local vineyards over big names, and another praised a guide's depth of knowledge about wine and the winemaking process. Pickup from Picton and outlying areas can be arranged through the operator at extra cost.

Visitors seen from behind stand at a cellar door tasting bench inside a stone and timber tasting room, glasses lined up, vines visible through the window.

What's Included

Included

All standard cellar door tasting experiences
Pickup and drop-off from Blenheim and Renwick central areas
Transfers between the different wineries

Not Included

Vineyard lunch choices are to be paid directly to the venue by guests

Itinerary

Pickup in BlenheimCollection from Blenheim or Renwick accommodation, with pickup between 10:15 and 10:30 AM for central Blenheim and Renwick guests.
Van transferA 15-minute van transfer to the first stop, included in the tour.
First wine tastingWine tasting for 1.5 hours in Marlborough, marked optional in the itinerary.
Second wine tastingA further 1-hour wine tasting at another cellar door, also optional.
Lunch stop105 minutes for lunch and a wine tasting at a vineyard restaurant or brewery. This stop carries an extra fee, paid directly to the venue on the day.
Third wine tastingAnother 1-hour optional wine tasting at a different winery.
Food tastingA short 15-minute optional food tasting to close out the winery visits.
Return to BlenheimDrop-off back at the accommodation, arriving between 4:30 and 5:30 PM.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what matters practically before booking this tour, from the listing and from what travellers have said afterwards.

How this price compares with 8 other tours in the same category (from-price per person, USD, the 8 lowest shown)

Winemakers Tour, Tasting Fees Included$143.68
Beyond the Vines Small Group$143.68
5 to 6 Hour Full-Day Tour (this tour)$154
Day of Wine, Hotel Pickup$162.07
Wine Tasting Plus Cruise Combo$183.91
Gourmet and Scenic, Blenheim Start$186.78
Full-Day From Blenheim, Lunch Included$218.39
Jimmy's Classic Full-Day Tour$227.01

Getting picked up. Pickup and drop-off from central Blenheim and Renwick are included. Pickup from Picton, Rarangi, Havelock, Queen Charlotte Drive and accommodation outside those central areas costs extra and can be arranged through the operator.
What to bring. The listing recommends comfortable shoes, a sun hat and water. That is the full kit suggested for a day split between the van and the cellar doors.
Pace of the day. Expect close to six hours door to door, with most of it split between tastings and a long lunch. It is a relaxed schedule, with all transfers between cellar doors handled by the tour.
Lunch arrangements. Lunch is not in the tour price. Guests pay the venue directly on the day, choosing between an à la carte lunch, a brewery tasting paddle or a glass of wine.
Group feel. This runs as a group tour by van, with all transport between cellar doors handled for you. One pair of reviewers said they ended up as the only two booked on their departure, which made the day even more special for them.
The wineries. Several travellers also praised the guides' knowledge of the wines and the cellar doors visited.

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Common issues. Lunch is paid out of pocket, and transfers from Picton and other outlying areas cost extra on top of the tour price. The itinerary marks several stops as optional, so the exact number of cellar doors on any given day sits between four and five rather than being fixed. Smoking is not allowed. The tour is also subject to the operator's 24-hour cancellation window.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

All standard cellar door tasting experiences, pickup and drop-off from Blenheim and Renwick central areas, and transfers between the wineries. A guide and transport for the full five to six hours are part of the package. Lunch is not included.

Do I Pay Extra For Lunch?

Yes. Vineyard lunch choices are paid directly to the venue by guests on the day. Options include an à la carte lunch, a brewery tasting paddle or a glass of premium wine at the lunch stop.

Is Hotel Pickup Included?

Pickup and drop-off from Blenheim and Renwick central areas are included, with collection between 10:15 and 10:30 AM. Pickups from Picton, Rarangi, Havelock, Queen Charlotte Drive and accommodation outside those areas can be arranged through Discovery Wine Tours but the transfer cost is not included.

How Long Is The Tour And When Does It Finish?

The tour runs five to six hours. You are picked up between 10:15 and 10:30 AM and returned to your accommodation between 4:30 and 5:30 PM.

Can I Cancel If My Plans Change?

Yes, the listing offers a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance.

What Should I Bring?

Comfortable shoes, a sun hat and water. Smoking is not allowed on the tour.