The picturesque seaside town of Picton in New Zealand’s South Island is a popular destination for travellers, given it is a gateway to the surrounding beauty of the Marlborough Sounds and the country’s most renowned wine making region.
Picton wine tasting tours that venture into the nearby Marlborough region have become a popular pastime for visitors seeking to explore arguably the finest Sauvignon Blanc wines anywhere in the world.Marlborough is the oldest and arguably the most important of New Zealand’s wine growing regions – responsible for introducing the world at large to its peerless Sauvignon Blanc wines in the 1990s.
Almost 80% of the country’s wines are produced in Marlborough, which also includes some exquisite Pinot Noir and intense Chardonnay, courtesy of a sun kissed climate and unique alluvial soils that stretch from the Pacific coastline in the east to the towering mountain ranges of the north and south. There are two main sub-regions within Marlborough: The Awatere Valley, which stretches inland where a cooler climate creates aromatic Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir styles with a distinctive minerality; and the larger Wairau Valley that is home to most of the region’s vineyards where the ubiquitous Sauvignon Blanc reigns supreme.
Since the Wairau Valley is within touching distance, Picton wine tasting tours tend to congregate around this area – where visitors can sample aromatic Sauvignon Blanc wines that are characterised by vividly pure fruit, herbaceous and tropical flavours.
At Wine Paths, our local experts in New Zealand can organise exclusive Picton wine tasting tours of vineyards across the region, which can include elaborate tastings, luxury stays, fine dining experiences and some unique outdoor activities. All of our private Picton wine tasting tours can be tailor made to meet your exact requirements, ensuring every detail is taken care of so that you can relax and revel in the quality of the wines.
The town of Picton, which was named after a military associate of the Duke of Wellington who was killed during the Battle of Waterloo, is the main link between the North and South islands with a frequently scheduled ferry service across the Cook Strait. Aside from being a convenient hub for wine tasting, Picton is also a starting point for visits to the breathtakingly beautiful Marlborough Sounds – an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys covering 4,000km 2 of sounds, islands and peninsulas.
The town of Picton, which was named after a military associate of the Duke of Wellington who was killed during the Battle of Waterloo, is the main link between the North and South islands with a frequently scheduled ferry service across the Cook Strait. Aside from being a convenient hub for wine tasting, Picton is also a starting point for visits to the breathtakingly beautiful Marlborough Sounds – an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys covering 4,000km 2 of sounds, islands and peninsulas.
Picton is located at the head of the largest Queen Charlotte Sound, which is surrounded by steep, wooded hills and small quiet bays with views straight from a picture postcard. Unsurprisingly, the Sounds are an ideal location to enjoy boat cruises, fishing trips, dolphin watching and sea kayaking.
The Queen Charlotte Track is also a major local attraction; a 70km walking track between Queen Charlotte Track and Kenepuru Sound that can be conquered by foot or on mountain bike while taking in sensational views. When not taking part in a Picton wine tasting tour, visitors can stroll through the quaint town that is dotted with cafes, restaurants and various galleries despite only having a population of a few thousand.
Contact Wine Paths for more inspirational ideas before planning a Picton wine tasting tour that will Sauvignon Blanc never seeming the same again.
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