"Recommended" by Lonely Planet, Frommer's, Fodors, Rough Guides.

Vineyard Tours

All food and wine tours are personally guided by Phil Parker

• Half Day West Auckland Tasting Tour
• Gourmet Wine & Cheese Half Day Tour
• The Big Day Out Tour
• Food & Wine Lovers Tour
• North Auckland Matakana Day Tour
• SPECIAL NEW TOUR "Behind The Label"- Exclusive Private Tours
• Large Group and Corporate Tours
• Other Options
• Gift Vouchers

Half Day West Auckland Tasting Tour

$NZ 179 per person - Approximately 10 am - 2 pm. Three wineries. From two guests to a maximum of seven.

• Includes lunch, tea/coffee etc.
• 3 winery tastings, with full tasting notes
• Allow four hours
• Stunning 'black sand' West Coast beach views
• Plus country Café lunch

No hidden costs or fees - NZ $179 covers the whole tour, notes, lunch and tasting fees.
10.00 am (approx) - You are collected from your accommodation (free door-to-door service from Inner City) and travel out of the City in the spacious comfort of our climate controlled, customized 7-seater Toyota coach. Journey through green rolling farmland and countryside, to visit three to four premium wineries, from: Nobilos Winery, Babich Wines, Coopers Creek, Kumeu River, Matua Valley, West Brook winery, Soljans Estate; and taste their best wines. Comprehensive tasting notes on all wines are provided for your convenience, plus Phil provides a light commentary.

Then, journey to the scenic, wild West Coast to enjoy breath-taking panoramic views of Muriwai 'Black Sand' surf beach, and blue Tasman Sea.

Finally before we head back to the City, take a break and let us spoil you with a complimentary café lunch.

2.00 pm (approx) You are returned to your accommodation.

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Gourmet Wine & Cheese Half Day Tour

$NZ 199 per person - Approximately 10 am - 2 pm. Three wineries. From two guests to a maximum of seven.

Sample a premium cheeseboard selection of NZ's finest cheeses, and visit renowned BeesOnline Honey Centre, while taking in a leisurely Half Day West Auckland Wine Tour. Three premium Auckland winery tastings accompanied by fine cheeses from famous NZ producers such as Kapiti, Puhoi and Whitestone. Explore NZ's native floral honeys with tastings at BeesOnline's rural complex. Also, honey-based cosmetics, gifts and gourmet items. Included - a superb country Café lunch, and spectacular 'black sand' West Coast beach views.

• Half Day West Auckland Wine Tour
• Gourmet selection of fine cheeses to accompany tastings
• Includes lunch, tea/coffee etc.
• 3 winery tastings, with full tasting notes
• Plus country Café lunch
• Visit BeesOnline Honey Centre

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The Big Day Out Tour

$NZ 299 per person - Approximately 10.00 am - 4.00 pm. Minimum two persons.

A full day of fantastic wine, food and stunning coastal scenery. Visit four, to five selected wineries from historic Kumeu wine region, 20 minutes from downtown Auckland. Includes premium cheese tasting, and superb 'open menu' restaurant lunch including fine wines, desserts, coffee/tea etc.

• Free door-to-door service from Inner City in a climate controlled 7-seater coach.
• Full Day four to five winery tasting tour
• Enjoy a superb a-la-carte vineyard restaurant lunch, with wine, tea/coffee, and desserts in the heart of Kumeu's green wine country.
• Rolling green farmland and native bush scenery
• Stunning 'black sand' West Coast Muriwai beach
• After lunch, option of Honey Centre – honey tastings
• All inclusive price covers lunch, entry fees, wine and cheese tastings, plus detailed tasting notes and complimentary mineral water. NO added fees or costs.
• Option of German style Microbrewery beer tasting (extra $25 p.p. per tasting)

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Food & Wine Lovers Tour

$NZ 299 per person - 9.30 am - 3.00 pm approx.
(Monday to Saturday only)

Treat your tastebuds to a fantastic day, visiting and sampling at Auckland's exclusive food, wine and liquor specialty outlets, with opportunities to purchase.

All inclusive price covers food, entry fees, wine and food tastings plus a la carte café lunch with wine, plus complimentary mineral water and goodies bag per person. NO added fees or costs.

• Start at Sanford's Seafood Market (fresh local seafood, sushi, deli).
• Then Sabato Fine Foods (sample and browse Italian, Spanish and local gourmet goods).
• After that, a short drive to Elliott Stables Food Quarter: Kapiti Cheeses and ice creams, Chocolate Cake Co (truffles and cup cakes), Sushi Bar, Fine Wine shop, Scotch Whisky boutique, Organic Meat shop, Designer Florist.
• Country Café Lunch in rural Kumeu, with Wine, coffee etc.
• Two Kumeu region winery tastings with a NZ Fine Cheese Platter.
• BeesOnline Honey Centre tastings.

Included: Hotel pickup & return, mineral water, lunch with wine, goodies bag & tasting notes.

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North Auckland Matakana Day Tour

$NZ 299 per person - 9.30 am - 3.30 pm approx. Minimum two persons.

A day tour to one of Auckland's boutique wine regions, including fantastic wine, food and stunning scenery. Visit three selected wineries from Matakana wine region, 50 minutes from downtown Auckland. Includes morning tea/coffee in historic Puhoi, and superb Vineyard Restaurant lunch.

• Free door-to-door service from Inner City in a climate controlled 7-seater coach

• Morning tea/coffee/cold drink in picturesque Puhoi, north Auckland

• Three winery tastings

• Enjoy a superb "open menu" Vineyard Restaurant lunch, with wine tea/coffee, desserts, in the heart of Matakana wine country

• Rolling green farmland and stunning Pacific Coast scenery

• After lunch, option of Honey Centre tastings or Morris & James pottery

• All inclusive price covers lunch, entry fees, wine tastings, plus detailed tasting notes and complimentary mineral water.

"Behind The Label"  - Exclusive Private Tours

These tours give you exclusive access to some of our finest Auckland wine producers.  At each winery you will, learn the family history, meet the winemaker for an introduction to the wines, and enjoy a private tasting of their premium wines with the winemaker.

Labels are West Auckland's Kumeu River and West Brook; plus Matakana region's boutique Ascension, and Heron's Flight. Included is two exclusive tastings, superb and leisurely 'open menu' 3-course vineyard Restaurant lunch with wines, plus option of another winery visit (cellar door tasting) at no extra cost, plus stunning rural and coastal sightseeing.

Please Note -  Behind the Label tours require advance notice (at least two days), as we have to notify the winemakers and book ahead.

 

West Auckland Behind the Label

$NZ1,350 per person - Minimum of two persons, maximum of four persons.

SPECIAL OFFER - BOOK BEFORE OCTOBER 2011 AND PAY JUST $NZ1,100 PER PERSON.

Kumeu River Winery

New Zealand's most famous producers of Chardonnay.  Here you will view the sweeping vineyards and have a private tasting with winemaker Michael Brajkovich or one of the immediate family.  Established by the late Maté Brajkovich in 1944, the vineyard comprises 70 acres producing around 20,000 cases per annum. All their grapes are hand harvested and whole bunch pressed, and only natural 'wild yeasts' are used.  Melba, Maté's widow heads the company and their eldest son Michael is chief winemaker and was NZ's first Master of Wine.  Brothers Milan and Paul manage viticulture and marketing respectively, and their sister Marijana has recently joined the company. Their 2007 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay was ranked at Number 41 by Wine Spectator Magazine in their "Top 100"; list of wines from all over the world, with a score of 92/100 points.

West Brook Winery

Anthony Ivicevich and his wife, Susan own West Brook. Arguably the most ravishing rural winery setting in Auckland, the winery looks out over pristine neat rows of vines as they climb up from a mirrored lake.  Again, you will participate in a private tasting by either winemaker Anthony or winemaker James Rowan.  Begun in 1935 by Anthony's Croatian grandfather, they now have 14 acres planted in Malbec, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.  Anthony is chief winemaker, and son Linton is the viticulturalist. They have very small production – around 15,000 cases per annum for their own label.  West Brook continues to win top awards for their wines, particularly their Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

• Door-to-door pickup and return in a spacious climate controlled luxury vehicle.

• Lunch - Soljans Estate Vineyard Restaurant. Soljans was selected as one of Auckland's top 40 restaurants by the NZ Herald newspaper. They are also winner of the 2010 New Zealand Beef & Lamb Hallmark of Excellence and have the honour of being the only Auckland winery café recommended in the Lonely Planet guide. Soljans serve Mediterranean-style food with a New Zealand twist and the menu changes seasonally, enabling chefs to showcase fresh seasonal produce from around the region. Enjoy a leisurely "open menu" superb 3-course lunch with wines

• After lunch – option of another local winery cellar door tasting, from our recommendation of: Nobilo winery, or Matua Valley wines.

• Then, journey to the scenic, wild West Coast to enjoy breath-taking panoramic views of Muriwai volcanic 'Black Sand' surf beach, and blue Tasman Sea.

• Cost is inclusive of tasting fees, local taxes, open menu 3 course lunch with wine, personalised information pack (including complimentary CD images of your tour, which will be sent to you as a special memento) and transport. (Airport drop-off and accommodation may also be arranged at extra cost.)

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North Auckland Matakana Behind the Label

$NZ1,350 per person - Minimum of two persons, maximum of four persons.

SPECIAL OFFER - BOOK BEFORE OCTOBER 2011 AND PAY JUST $NZ1,100 PER PERSON.

Matakana in North-East Auckland is a picturesque boutique winemaking region with most wineries established for less than 10 years.  Matakana is a 50-minute drive from Auckland city, while taking in stunning Pacific Coast scenery.  Its sunny North facing hillsides produce ripe red wines from varietals such as Sangiovese, and the South African Pinotage (a hybrid of French grape Cinsaut and Pinot Noir).  The white grapes are also doing extremely well. 

Ascension Wine Estate

Established 1994 by Darryl and Bridget Soljan.  Darryl is part of the West Auckland Soljan winemaking dynasty - Croatian immigrants who began making wine in 1937.  A beautiful setting - 9 acres of vines climb the north-facing hill beside the Tuscan-themed winery building.  Only around 7,000 cases produced per year. No wine is exported. This vineyard is planted with a mix of traditional and unusual grape varieties that are hand-tended to produce small intensely flavoured crops.  Each parcel of fruit is hand picked to express Ascension's unique combination of sunny maritime climate and soils of free draining, iron-rich Matakana clay.  Here, enjoy a private tasting with winemaker Darryl Soljan. Wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Flora, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Malbec, Pinotage and Bordeaux style Meritage blends.

Heron's Flight Vineyard

Established 1988 by David Hoskins (ex Philadelphia USA) and his partner Mary Evans. In 1994 they planted the Italian Chianti grape – Sangiovese Grosso.  Now, David and Mary have pulled all the other varieties out and now Sangiovese is the dominant grape from Heron's Flight's 15-acre vineyard, with production at about 1,000 cases per year.  David also produces about 700 cases the Italian grape variety - Dolcetto.  Very little wine sold other than over the counter or mail list, but they do have an agent in UK. Participate in a tutored tasting with David leading you through his premium NZ red wines.

• Lunch - Heron's Flight Restaurant.  Superbly situated in a spectacular vineyard setting, the restaurant offers glorious 180-degree views of vineyards, fields valleys and mountains. Heron's Flight food has always focused on fresh and local. For a long time it has emphasized Italian trattoria style meals to match the Italian style wines produced from the vineyard.  Enjoy a leisurely "open menu" superb 3-course vineyard Restaurant lunch with wines.

• After lunch – option of another local winery cellar door tasting, from our recommendation of: Brick Bay Winery, or Omaha Bay Vineyard.

• Cost is inclusive of tasting fees, local taxes, open menu 3 course lunch with wine, personalised information pack (including CD images of your tour, which will be sent to you as a special memento) and transport.  (Airport drop-off and accommodation may also be arranged at extra cost.)

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MORE TOUR OPTIONS ...

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Gift Vouchers

A great idea for that special occasion gift!
We can arrange for wine tour gift vouchers to be mailed or emailed to the recipient. Then they contact us to arrange a suitable date. Contact us for details.

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To fully guarantee your booking, FULL PAYMENT or 50% DEPOSIT is required in advance, via Credit Card. You may fax or phone your details.

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Email:

Phone: +64 9 5295 007

Mobile: +64 021 626 529

Freephone within NZ: 0800 023 111

Auckland's best accommodation, tours and activities. Spoil yourself with superior accommodation, exhilarating outdoor activities and personalised tours under the big Auckland sky www.BestofAuckland.co.nz.

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