The Nelson Tasman wine Region
Drink like you live here.
The artisinal edge of New Zealand wine
In a region long renowned for its bountiful crops and orchards, Nelson’s wine roots were first cultivated in the mid-1800s and brought to the stage in the 1970s by iconic pioneering producers such as Neudorf Vineyards and Seifried Family Estate.
The environmental partnership of extraordinary sunshine hours and cool coastal breeze gives our fruit a delightfully slow ripening period… and some big personalities.
Three Distinict Terroir, One Compact Region
Grape vines are influenced by the soil in which they're grown, by weather whims, how they’re tended and when they’re harvested. Rainfall, sunshine, hailstorms and drought all play a role in how the wine in your glass will ultimately taste, making each vintage a fresh adventure.
Waimea Plains
Waimea - river gardens in te reo Māori – is home to stony soils of alluvial origin and high sunshine hours. The sub-regions aromatic whites are vibrant wines, with a flinty backbone acting as a counterpoint to the overt fruit flavours. The Chardonnay here is richly expressive with fine acid structure. Pinot Noir is perfumed with plum and cherry characters on the nose, with a ripeness that carries through to supple tannins on the palate.
Moutere Hills
The softly rolling inland Moutere Hills were formed from the weathered gravels of an ancient river system, which originally reached from St Arnaud to Tasman Bay Coast. The gravel threaded clay soils are renowned for producing wines of richness and texture. Pinot Noir is deeply flavoured with refined soft tannins, while Chardonnay is complex and multi-faceted with excellent structure. Winemakers also produce excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris from the Moutere Hils.
Tasman Coast
The Tasman Coast is a narrow strip of land stretching approximately 30km from the Māpua Inlet to Riwaka in the North West, and a short drive to the start of the world-famous Abel Tasman National Park track. The moderate maritime climate of this sub-region combines harmoniously with the Moutere clay of Tasman, through to the limestone of Riwaka, allowing production of a wide range of fine wines of complexity and elegance.
Nelson Tasman Wines - Grown here, known here
Warm days with high sunshine hours paired with dramatically cool autumn nights give Nelson grapes a long, slow ripening period. This distinct climate pauses sugar accumulation at night, while allowing intense flavours, complex aromatics, and a vibrant natural acidity to develop. The result - a collection of elegant, expressive, and texture-driven wines. Take your pick.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay defines Nelson’s premium wine reputation, standing as our flagship white variety celebrated for its remarkable purity, concentration, and aging longevity. It showcases a captivating dual personality across our local terroirs: the ancient clay of the Moutere Hills produces weighty, deeply structured, and texture-driven wines, while the stony gravels of the Waimea Plains offer a lighter style defined by bright citrus and a crisp, flinty minerality. This benchmark variety remains anchored by boutique family wineries, crafting some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most critically acclaimed white wines.
Local Pairing: Fresh, locally caught Tasman Bay finfish with a rich Māpua smoked mussel sauce, allowing the region's famous brick-kiln smokehouse flavors to mirror the wine's luscious texture.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir stands as Nelson’s premier red variety, capturing the region's vibrant fruit purity and structural elegance. The district's abundant sunshine allows the grapes to develop complex aromatics and fine, silky tannins without losing freshness. This expressive variety beautifully reflects its dual terroirs: the ancient Moutere clay soils yield deeply coloured, savoury wines with rich dark cherry and plum notes, while the stony Waimea alluvial gravels produce a prettier, lighter style featuring bright red fruits and floral aromas. Either way, a captivating, elegant red crafted with boutique care.
Local Pairing: Pair lightly chilled Nelson Pinot Noir with crisp-skinned, locally caught Tasman Bay King Salmon - the wine's bright red fruit and elegant tannins beautifully cut through the rich oils of the fish.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc thrives under our extended growing season, offering an elegant, restrained, and texture-driven counterpoint to other domestic styles. Slower flavour development yields a sophisticated profile bursting with tropical notes of passionfruit and fresh lime, underpinned by a distinct, linear mineral backbone and crunchy herbaceous tones. Mirroring our regional geology, Waimea gravels highlight crisp, bright citrus elements, while the Moutere hills introduce a weightier, riper stone fruit complexity. It is an incredibly refreshing, brilliantly balanced white wine with exceptional food-friendly longevity.
Local Pairing: Pair with fresh, locally caught Tasman Bay scallops or pan-fried snapper. The wine’s crisp citrus acidity cuts beautifully through the sweet, delicate seafood.
Pinot gris
Pinot Gris is a powerhouse of texture and aromatic complexity, benefiting massively from Nelson’s cool autumn nights that keep the fruit naturally fresh. This climate permits the grapes to build immense flavour depth while maintaining balance, avoiding heavy or flabby styles. The wine delivers lush, concentrated layers of poached pear, baked apple, and subtle ginger spice. The Moutere clay soils impart a weighty, opulent oiliness on the mid-palate, while the Waimea plains provide a crisp, clean finish that makes this variety remarkably versatile at the dinner table.
Local Pairing: Delicious with a charcuterie board featuring locally cured artisan meats, dried orchard fruits, and a selection of local Nelson walnuts.
Rosé
Nelson Rosé is a true reflection of summer in the Nelson Tasman district - vibrant, refreshing, and deeply expressive. Crafted predominantly from premium Pinot Noir or unique parcels of Pinot Meunier, our climate preserves the bright, crunchy red-fruit energy that defines great Rosé. Expect delightful aromas of fresh wild strawberry, crushed raspberries, and subtle floral notes, finishing completely dry and clean. Our boutique winemakers handle the fruit delicately to create a pale, elegant, and perfectly balanced wine that captures the relaxed coastal spirit of our region.
Local Pairing: Pair with a platter of local artisan cheeses, featuring a creamy, soft brie or fresh goat's cheese from the region, alongside locally grown olives.
Albariño
An exciting star of our regional portfolio, Albariño has found a spectacular home-away-from-home in Nelson’s maritime climate. Mirroring the coastal conditions of its native Spain, our sea breezes and sunny days coax the absolute best out of this variety. It reveals intense aromas of white peach, apricot, and orange blossom, all balanced by a thrilling, high-energy acidity and a signature saline, briny mineral finish. It is a highly expressive, refreshing white wine that perfectly captures the essence of our sun-drenched, ocean-bordered vineyards.
Local Pairing: Pair with fresh Golden Bay cockles or green-lipped mussels steamed in garlic and white wine, beautifully complementing the wine's natural marine salinity.
Emerging varieties
For visitors seeking something truly unique, Nelson’s creative winemakers have established a playground for rare and emerging varieties. Our unique terroirs successfully support artisanal blocks of Pinot Blanc - yielding a beautifully textured, golden-style aromatic - alongside the vibrant spice of Grüner Veltliner, floral Riesling, and the rare, intensely aromatic German Würzer. In the reds, look for deeply coloured, savoury Austrian Zweigelt or elegant Cabernet Franc. These small-batch, discovery wines showcase the true breadth of our boutique craftsmanship.
Local Pairing: Pair these exploratory white aromatics with a wood-fired artisan pizza or tapas platter at a local Moutere or Māpua wharf cafe, letting the wine's vibrant spice match the relaxed, local food scene.
Explore Nelson Tasman
Where good times grow on the vines.
Reward the Adventure
Nelson is famous for its generous sunshine, stunning natural environment, skilled artisans, and community of talented food and wine makers - a combination that nurtures bold creativity, freedom, and unwavering respect for nature.
Whether you’re visiting our region for the wine, trails, art, or something else, stay a while - there is always more to explore.
The Great Taste Trail
One of Aotearoa New Zealand’s official Great Rides, The Great Taste Trail is a 200km cycling and walking loop through Nelson Tasman’s spectacular coastal estuaries, vineyards, orchards, and historic towns, with an abundance of local food, wine, and craft beer stops along the way.
Three National Parks
The Nelson region offers an epic outdoors scene, with hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fresh seafood and fishing, three national parks, and two of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Great Walks on our doorstep. Throw in some world-class wine, and there’s no better way to reward your adventure.
Creators and Curators
A prominent artisan community calls Nelson home, delivering an abundance of top notch wineries, breweries, artists, galleries, and cafes for visitors to experience first-hand. Many of our cellar doors feature galleries on-site - a perfect pairing with your wine adventure.