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Blenheim, South Island = wine tasting!

As I said before, so many wines, so little time but I am trying my best 🙂 so when visiting friends in Blenheim, who also have a vineyard, we did a wee bit of wine tasting – well, it would be rude not to!

Blenheim is in Marlborough, South Island, a major wine producing region of New Zealand and particularly famed for producing Sauvignon Blanc.  Lovely wine tastings here, relaxed and less chance of having to pay for tastings – unlike in Martinborough where charging for tastings unfortunately seems to be the norm.

St Clair

Cellar door and cafe with a rather nice shop celling amazing preserves and chutneys, St Clair is a slick family run operation although it felt a little on the formal, business side of tasting experience.  A small selection of wine was available for tasting at a nominal tasting fee charge.  I particularly enjoyed the Saint Clair Pioneer Block 6 Chardonnay 2007 which had 6 months in oak, although I am not a fan of oaked Chard this had a soft hint of oak to it.

Hunters

There is a restaurant, art gallery and native garden to keep you amused at Hunter’s, but we headed straight for the tasting room where we received a warm and friendly welcome.  A list detailing 13 wines was given to us to peruse to assist us in making our choices for tasting, although you can just discuss your taste in wines and they will point you in the right direction.  I hadn’t come across Hunter’s before, but I will be on the look out for it now!

Their MiruMiru Non Vintage bubbly was peachy and citrus fresh, the Kaho Roa 2007 lightly oaked Sauvignon Blanc was unusual and would be a great lunch wine, the Gewurztraminer 2009 smacks of  yummy Turkish Delight and the Hukapapa 2007 was a sweet nectar of honey and how I think autumn would taste like!

Framingham

Famed for award-winning Rieslings, Framingham is always on our Blenners hit list!  The Select Riesling is a sure fire hit, although we noted it has increased in price considerably since we last bought some at the cellar door, but that didn’t stop us making a purchase as the Riesling is just so darn good (Classic and Select varieties!).  Staff are always friendly and relaxed so it’s always a pleasant tasting experience.

Wither Hills

Wither Hills Winery

Wither Hills Winery

Whether you like their wines or not, the Wither Hills winery building alone is worth a visit with  lovely views from the viewing deck, cool chill out garden with bean bags so you can lounge in comfort whilst enjoying your glass of wine and restaurant, it is a destination in itself.

Good quaffing wines on offer here, when I enjoyed Sauv Blanc I loved Wither Hills’ version.

It was three years to the month since we last did wine tastings in Blenheim and I pleased to see it still lives up to the memory of pleasant, friendly, relaxed but professional wine tastings.

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