Photo: Siobhan Leachman · Wikimedia Commons · CC0
7 wine festivals, harvest celebrations, and food-and-wine events — with dates, tickets, and travel tips.
Festivals worth planning a trip around.
Photo: AnnWoolliams · CC BY-SA 4.0New Zealand's longest-running wine festival, held annually among the vines at Brancott Estate since 1985. Over 40 Marlborough wineries and local food producers set up in the vineyard, with live music and cooking demonstrations. The definitive celebration of the world's Sauvignon Blanc capital.
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A weekend of food and wine events across 30+ Hawke's Bay wineries and restaurants. Each venue creates a unique event — from long-table lunches in barrel halls to seafood picnics in the vines. The region's Art Deco heritage and Mediterranean climate add a distinctive character unlike any other NZ wine event.
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Photo: Kylie & Rob (and Helen) · CC BY 2.0New Zealand's most beloved wine festival transforms the village of Martinborough into a walkable open-air wine and music event each November. Over 20 Wairarapa wineries set up in the village square and surrounding lanes, with live music stages, food stalls, and picnic rugs on the lawn. The village-scale format and Pinot Noir focus make it New Zealand's most charming wine day.
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Photo: Pinot noir 76 · CC BY 3.0A three-day celebration of Central Otago Pinot Noir in the stunning Queenstown Lakes district. Masterclasses, vineyard lunches, and a grand tasting showcase wines from the world's southernmost wine region. The spectacular alpine scenery and adventure tourism make this a wine-and-adventure combination unlike any other.
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Photo: Lim Ashley · CC BY 2.0Auckland's island wine region marks the harvest with a weekend of cellar door tastings, vineyard lunches, and barrel-room tours. Waiheke's boutique producers — Stonyridge, Cable Bay, Man O' War — pour from barrels and showcase new releases against a backdrop of island views and Hauraki Gulf beaches. A 35-minute ferry from Auckland makes it New Zealand's most accessible wine getaway.
View festival detailsPlanning a festival trip? These guides cover the best towns, vineyard stays, and hotels across New Zealand's wine regions.
All 7 festivals organised by month.
Hastings, New Zealand
A weekend of food and wine events across 30+ Hawke's Bay wineries and restaurants. Each venue creates a unique event — from long-table lunches in barrel halls to seafood picnics in the vines. The region's Art Deco heritage and Mediterranean climate add a distinctive character unlike any other NZ wine event.
Festival detailsWhere to stay near HastingsWe may earn a commission
Queenstown, New Zealand
A three-day celebration of Central Otago Pinot Noir in the stunning Queenstown Lakes district. Masterclasses, vineyard lunches, and a grand tasting showcase wines from the world's southernmost wine region. The spectacular alpine scenery and adventure tourism make this a wine-and-adventure combination unlike any other.
Festival detailsWhere to stay near QueenstownWe may earn a commission
Blenheim, New Zealand
New Zealand's longest-running wine festival, held annually among the vines at Brancott Estate since 1985. Over 40 Marlborough wineries and local food producers set up in the vineyard, with live music and cooking demonstrations. The definitive celebration of the world's Sauvignon Blanc capital.
Festival detailsWhere to stay near BlenheimWe may earn a commission
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Auckland's island wine region marks the harvest with a weekend of cellar door tastings, vineyard lunches, and barrel-room tours. Waiheke's boutique producers — Stonyridge, Cable Bay, Man O' War — pour from barrels and showcase new releases against a backdrop of island views and Hauraki Gulf beaches. A 35-minute ferry from Auckland makes it New Zealand's most accessible wine getaway.
Festival detailsWhere to stay near Waiheke IslandWe may earn a commission
Illustration: WineTravelGuides
Martinborough, New Zealand
The Wairarapa region's main harvest festival brings together Martinborough, Gladstone, and Masterton wineries for open cellar days, harvest lunches, and a town square market. Unlike the ticketed Toast Martinborough event, much of the harvest festival is cellar door based and self-directed — ideal for visitors who want a quieter, less structured wine experience.
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Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson's celebration of its craft beer, cider, and cool-climate wines in the sunniest city in New Zealand. Held at Founders Heritage Park, Marchfest showcases the Nelson/Tasman region's Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Riesling alongside the local craft beer scene. A relaxed, family-friendly event in a historic steam-engine park setting.
Festival detailsWhere to stay near NelsonWe may earn a commission
Martinborough, New Zealand
New Zealand's most beloved wine festival transforms the village of Martinborough into a walkable open-air wine and music event each November. Over 20 Wairarapa wineries set up in the village square and surrounding lanes, with live music stages, food stalls, and picnic rugs on the lawn. The village-scale format and Pinot Noir focus make it New Zealand's most charming wine day.
Festival detailsWhere to stay near MartinboroughWe may earn a commission
Marlborough Wine & Food Festival
Seek out the small-production Sauvignon Blanc tables from Greywacke and Cloudy Bay's experimental batches—they rarely appear elsewhere. Book a Thursday evening pre-festival tasting at a boutique producer like Fromm or Seresin; the festival crowd doesn't hit until Friday, giving you private access to winemakers.
Hawke's Bay Food & Wine Classic
The barrel-hall long-table lunches at Te Muna Road Road or Craggy Range book out weeks ahead—reserve immediately upon announcement. Skip the main festival grounds and instead focus on the individual venue events; the Syrah and Merlot-focused tastings at smaller producers like Black Barn offer better value and less crowding than the central tasting area.
Ticket allocation sells out within minutes of release (usually June) — sign up to the mailing list immediately. Ata Rangi, Martinborough Vineyard, and Palliser Estate pour some of New Zealand's finest Pinot Noir at the festival.
Wairarapa Wine & Food Harvest Festival
Easter is a long weekend in New Zealand — drive over the Rimutaka Range from Wellington (an hour) for a peaceful alternative to the sold-out Toast Martinborough. Dry River and Ata Rangi are among New Zealand's most highly regarded small producers.
Nelson is also New Zealand's craft hop growing centre — the hop farms of Motueka are an hour away and worth visiting. Combine with the Waimea Inlet Trail and a visit to Seifried Estate for a full Nelson wine experience.
Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration
Book the vineyard lunch experiences rather than general tastings—Felton Road and Quartz Reef reserve their premium micro-lots exclusively for sit-down events. Combine your visit with a pre-dawn hot-air balloon ride over the wine region beforehand; several operators offer packages, and the altitude perspective of the terroir is genuinely insightful for understanding Central Otago's microclimates.
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