Martinborough
Martinborough
Enjoy the premium wines, boutique stores, olive groves and quality restaurants.
Enjoy the premium wines, boutique stores, olive groves and quality restaurants.
Martinborough is located on the site of one of New Zealand's first sheep station and was established by Irish immigrant John Martin in 1881. The streets are laid out in the shape of the Union Jack and are named after places he visited on his world travels. Martinborough features over thirty largely family-owned wineries and most are within walking distance of the village. Packed with charm, Martinborough is a popular weekend destination where you can enjoy the premium wines, boutique stores, olive groves and quality restaurants.
Martinborough is located on the site of one of New Zealand's first sheep station and was established by Irish immigrant John Martin in 1881.
The streets are laid out in the shape of the Union Jack and are named after places he visited on his world travels. Martinborough features over thirty largely family-owned wineries and most are within walking distance of the village. Packed with charm, Martinborough is a popular weekend destination where you can enjoy the premium wines, boutique stores, olive groves and quality restaurants.
Martinborough has become a boutique wine village and some of New Zealand’s best wines come from friendly family-owned vineyards around the town with the town's pinot noir gaining it international recognition. There are several fine restaurants and top cafes making Martinborough the ideal getaway for foodies and wine lovers alike.
Martinborough is a 75 minute drive from Wellington via SH2, and 15 minutes from Featherston and Greytown. It is a 25 minute drive from Carterton,(via Ponatahi Road) and 40 minute drive from Masterton (via either Ponatahi Road or SH2). TRANZ METRO rail operates weekend services to Featherston, and north to Masterton. Check with TranzMetro about times, fares, and transfers from Featherston.
Martinborough has become a boutique wine village and some of New Zealand’s best wines come from friendly family-owned vineyards around the town with the town's pinot noir gaining it international recognition.
Perhaps Martinborough was designed purely for fine wine.
No one single factor but a unique combination of climatic forcesshape the conditions for producing grapes of great flavour and complexity.
That intensity is created by Martinborough’s genuinely cool climate. Science proves what winemakers know – that building depth of flavour takes time, through cool nights and warm days over many months. That’s how to produce premium classic varietals of international standing. Martinborough days are dry and nights fresh, with four sharply defined seasons. This is the North Island’s driest spot, in a rain shadow created by the Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges.
Extreme weather patterns are rare, although the district is prone to spring frosts. The district is studded with angular wind machines, triggered by falling temperatures to rotate warm air from above and protect baby vines from frost damage. Some years climatic challenges dramatically reduce the crop
Martinborough viticulturists and winemakers bask in one of longest growing seasons (from flowering to harvest) in New Zealand. With significant temperature variation between day and night (the diurnal range), naturally breezy conditions to control vine vigour and a golden settled autumn ripening, the result is low-yielding of grapes with great intensity of flavour.
