New Zealand Wine Tour 2025

Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to some of the most magical places you will ever visit! 

From Waiheke Island (our favorite place in the world!) to the land of Rohan (otherwise known as the Pinot Noir region of Central Otago), this trip will be sure to enchant, educate, and excite any adventurer and wine lover. 

Our 9 day trip will take us to both the northern and souther islands of New Zealand and give us ample time to taste and explore some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. 

Spaces on this trip will be extremely limited! If you would like to add your name to save your spot and receive updates, please fill out the contact form below. 

Final itinerary and prices will be released at the beginning of 2024.

KEY DATES IN NEW ZEALAND WINE HISTORY

1819 Under the instruction of Samuel Mardsen, an Anglican Missionary, on September 25th, 1819, Charles Gordon (Agriculture superintendent) planted the first grapevines on Bay of Island sites. 

1835 The first winemaker was Scotsman James Busby, the first British resident in the country. He started growing French, Spanish, and German grape varietals at his residence at Waitangi. 

1840 French explorer, Dumont d’Urbville, visited and described Busby offering him a sweet, sparkling white wine that was of very good quality. 

1865 The first permanently operating winery in New Zealand was established at Hawke’s Bay on the east coast of the North Island. 

1900 Large numbers of immigrants from the Dalmatian coastline around what is now western Croatia arrived in New Zealand and brought knowledge of European wine-making and other grape varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay and established wineries.

1970s Heavy investment by companies from Europe and America. Improvement in quality.

1973 Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community saw New Zealand’s dairy and meat industries badly impacted, as their privileged access to the British market as a Commonwealth nation was undermined. As a result, many sheep and dairy farmers began diversifying into viticulture. 

1979 Montana Wines (today’s Bancroft Estate) produced their first Sauvignon Blanc wine. 

1980s New Zealand became known internationally for its Sauvignon Blanc wines. 

1985 Government removed barriers from imports. Australian wine could rival New Zealand wine.

2020 New Zealand was the world’s 11th largest wine exporter globally.

Main grape varieties

RED: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Malbec

WHITE: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc.