Private Martinborough Wine Full Day Tour From Wellington

My wife and I are visiting our daughter in Auckland. We have taken a number of wine tours (as well as bird tours) and have always had only the nicest things to say. We were excited to go on this tour because of the reputation of Martinborough for fine Pinots. Sadly, this tour disappoints. First, let me say that Andrew, our guide, was knowledgeable, attentive, funny and a real pleasure. He was the best! The “Whole Day Tour” fell flat. The first winery was fine, if a bit ordinary. There were 4 or 5 Pinots to sample (Pinots are the main reason to come to this area). We bought a case and shipped to our daughter in Auckland. The second winery, Poppies, let us down badly. Not a single Pinot to try. All sold out! Why would the tour company continue to use a place with no Pinots? They knew full well there were no Pinots but kept them on the roster? If you like white wines and sweet wines, it would be tops. In fairness they actually did have one Pinot (in an impressive presentation wooden box for ~$160 IIRC) which we were allowed a sip. Lunch there was a lovely cold tray of meats and cheeses and many other things. It was enjoyable but honestly, a cold plate was a bit disappointing on a $181 (USD) per person wine tour. The last stop was was a winery where the owner was pouring small samples after loudly announcing “5 tastings are $10!” The tiny tasting room was crowded, not a single place to sit. Literally, no chairs, not just no available chairs, no chairs. Curt descriptions of the wines along with an hurried atmosphere and I could not get out of there quick enough! It was the worst of the bunch. So, in summary, we had a great guide but the wineries picked for this high dollar tour were way below par. This is the first negative review I have ever written but I think folks should know what to expect before spending a fair amount of money for a below par experience.

Andrew was a fantastic guide. Lunch at Poppies was a highlight. The 3 wineries showcased the region’s wines so well.

We enjoyed this tour with another couple (very nice Aussie's) guided by Andrew. This trip was way more than expected. Andrew stopped at several Lord of The Rings filming sites including Helm's Deep (a quarry) and provided a LTR tour book to review. We made several scenic overlook stops. Andrew was able to add historical personal references from family history of ANZACs and had a notebook of copies of newspaper clippings relevant to the story. Then we visited three outstanding wineries and ate at Poppie's with a fine charcuterie board including pork belly and our favorite wine choice. We stopped to enjoy a coffee at a local coffee shop and then ventured into an award winning chocolatier that offered samples. The chocolate lemongrass was our favorite. Then on our way back Andrew offered to drive us into Wellington for a quick view of the city and then back to the cruise ship on time. This was a wonderful tour and highly recommended. Kudos to Andrew.