Nelson Wines, New Zealand: An Enotourism Guide

The Nelson region, in the north of New Zealand’s South Island, has been growing grapes since the late 1960s—much to the delight of our taste buds! Let’s take a closer look at this wine region, which captivates with its beauty and the wines it produces!

The Nelson Wine Region – New Zealand

As early as 1872, Roméo Bragato, a winegrower appointed by the government to assess the country’s agricultural potential, declared the Nelson region “ideally situated for growing grapes.” And he was right! Today, no fewer than 34 winemakers have established themselves in the region. Here, people care about the land and future generations: the majority of the vineyards are certified organic! Bordered by the Tasman Sea and surrounded by two national parks (Abel Tasman and Kahurangi), it boasts an idyllic setting, perfect for both viticulture and wine tourism.

At the heart of Nelson's roots

Divided into two subregions (the Moutere Hills in the hills and the Waimea Plains on the plains), Nelson boasts a wide variety of soils. The vines bask in the sun almost year-round, as this is one of New Zealand’s sunniest regions, with 2,405 hours of sunshine annually.

In this region, you’ll find true artisans of the vineyard. Dave Glover, with 3 hectares of vines, does everything on his own.

A few meters away, Michael, his son, has been making wine at Mahana, the neighboring vineyard, for the past year. He emphasizes the terroir, and you can really taste it. Here, they’re searching for their own identity and experimenting.

The Mahana Vineyard:

Further up the valley, Tim and Judy Finn have been making wine as a family since the early 1980s, and one of the country’s finest Chardonnays comes from their barrels.

Proud of their wine tourism, many of the vineyards welcome you year-round to introduce you to their wines—and we love that!