Given the number of seriously good cafes along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, an alternative name could be the Classic New Zealand Coffee Trail, after all, aside from being imbibed; coffee shares a number of attributes with wine.

Winemakers tend their vats lovingly, creating fine wines, just as baristas are connoisseurs in the art of making the finest coffee. They’re both given the raw product and told to whip up a brew, so to speak.

Then there’s the wine lovers who sit around drinking vino, discussing in detail each drop that passes their lips, just as the coffee faithfuls banter about the best blend in town.

Wellington is known as New Zealand’s coffee capital, with some of the country’s most renowned baristas calling it home. Perhaps its central location along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail has given rise to great blends in the other Trail regions too. Don comfy shoes and walk your way around the city’s cafes.

A Hawke’s Bay vigneron told me he always stops off at Hawthorne in Havelock North on his way to check his vines in the Gimblett Gravels. Apparently their coffee is his daily ‘pick me up’.

While in the Wairarapa the locals say they’re spoilt for choice with the number of great cafes along Greytown’s main street, while the winery crowd apparently tend to get their morning fix in Martinborough. 

Marlborough’s residents tell me they know how to brew a good blend at the southern end of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail too. The airport’s cafe is apparently so good they recommend an espresso there before taking off. 

To find out where to get a really good coffee and some cafe fare to go with it, check out our suggestions http://www.classicwinetrail.co.nz/winefood.html

Searching for food-friendly wines to match your culinary creations? Look no further than Marlborough. Located at the southern end of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, its wineries produce a multitude of ideal tablemates.

Renowned for its sauvignon blanc, Marlborough’s take on the variety matches all non-sweet white meat and vegetable dishes, and packs enough punch to handle stronger flavours such as goat’s cheese.

Marlborough’s also well known for its seafood and local vintner Henri Bourgeois knows how to make a sauvignon blanc that’s fantastic with oysters. Dry with a rich texture, Clos Henri 2010 Sauvignon Blanc is super food-friendly.

Chardonnay drinkers will not be disappointed when visiting Marlborough’s cellar doors. No one trick pony, the region also produces some great chardonnay. Vegetable dishes, chicken and seafood are obvious choices to pair with this variety. We suggest matching local seared scallops with Nautilus 2010 Chardonnay. Heavenly.

The region’s Pinot Noir is typically soft and light, ideal with red meat dishes and even seafood too. Partner Cloudy Bay’s 2009 Pinot Noir with New Zealand lamb for a dining experience to remember.

To find out more about tasting wines from along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail go to www.classicwinetrail.co.nz

Thanks to a flock of East Friesian sheep & the skilled hands of Miles King, supreme artisan cheese is produced on the outskirts of Masterton, in the Wairarapa.

Back in 1998 the Kings decided to dabble in cheese making. Out of a small cheesery built alongside their grazing flock, the first Kingsmeade cheeses were created. With the milking sheds located there as well, not only does the milk not have to travel far, it’s also handled much less than the milk used to produce cheese on a large commercial scale. The other bonus is that the Kings know exactly where each litre of milk has come from – their own paddock.

A neighbouring herd of Jerseys provide milk for cow’s milk and blended chesses that the Kings have added to the range.

It’s fair to say that Miles King is hands-on. As a former sheep farmer he’s there when the lambs are born, watching over them as they graze on wild herbs such as plantain, chicory and lucerne. He milks the ewes twice a day, makes the cheese, then cuts and packages it for sale.

Since the cheese is all hand made on site, no two batches are alike. Subtle differences also occur from season to season depending on what the flock have been eating.

Nearby Janet runs the Kingsmeade deli, selling cheese direct to the public and sending orders around the world. 

Kingsmeade deli, 8 First Street, Lansdowne http://www.kingsmeadecheese.co.nz/

To find out more about food producers along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail go to http://www.classicwinetrail.co.nz/winefood.html

Gooseberry, passion fruit and capsicum – they’re the aromas synonymous with New Zealand sauvignons, particularly those from Marlborough. The second you lock your lips around a glass you’re transported to images of mountain streams…such is the purity of flavour. With a love affair like that, it’s no wonder the bottle seems to be empty in no time!

It makes you wonder why anyone could wish to alter the style in any way. Yet some years ago renowned Marlborough winery Cloudy Bay did just that, releasing a variant with more weight and a larger range of flavours, called ‘Te Koko’. Some of us applauded this barrel-aged alternative, enjoying it’s more subtle fruitiness, while others preferred the punchiness of the traditional sauvignons we’d grown accustomed to.      

These days, Cloudy Bay’s no longer the only winery along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail producing this more restrained style of sauvignon, reminiscent of a fine chardonnay. As you travel the route call in at Hawke’s Bay’s Trinity Hill. The winery aged its Façon Traditionelle High Country Sauvignon Blanc 2009 on the yeast lees in-barrel for eight months. It’s a big wine that’s a delight to drink. For a wine that embraces both the traditional fruit-forward style and the newer more complex variant, try Giesen’s The August 1888 Sauvignon Blanc. From Marlborough, toast characters and savoury yeast are present, but take a back seat to intense fruit flavours. 

So if anyone dares to tell you they think all New Zealand sauvignons taste the same, be sure to tell them about the alternative style likely to reignite their love affair with sauvignon blanc!

To find out more about experiencing the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail go to www.classicwinetrail.co.nz

Calling all Aussies….not done a road trip along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail yet? Enough excuses! Just a one-movie flight across the Tasman and you’ll be hitting the vineyards by lunchtime.

Since Air New Zealand flies direct to Wellington, mid way along the CNZWT, how about experiencing the route as a couple of mini breaks? Explore the northern leg on one trip, then return to find out what the southern leg has to offer. After all, what wine loving foodie wants to rush their way through the farmers’ markets, eateries and more than 100 cellar doors along the journey.

Wellington’s a gourmet hot spot, with more restaurants and bars per capita than NYC. Spend some time in this compact capital city checking out its designer stores and culinary scene. With such a strong Aussie dollar, be sure to leave suitcase space for your purchases.

Hit the road the next day for the Wairarapa. Not only is the region renowned for its world class Pinot Noir but Martinborough and Greytown are also known for their cuisine. Stop at artisan chocolate studio Schoc, try pastries at The French Baker and dine at Cornucopia Bistro at Aylstone Boutique Retreat.

Got a couple more days up your sleeve? Head north to Hawke’s Bay to taste some of New Zealand’s finest Bordeaux style reds. There’s lots of stylish accommodation in the region, from vineyard cottages to swanky hotels. For something a little different stay at Hawthorne House, an Edwardian villa-turned-B&B. Budding chefs can book in for a cooking school weekend, creating cuisine from the finest local ingredients.

Alternatively, after your urban introduction to New Zealand’s wine and food scene with a sojourn in Wellington, take the vehicular ferry across Cook Strait to Picton to discover Marlborough’s wineries. With 92km of breathtaking views, it’s a spectacular journey between the North and South Islands.

Be sure to enjoy local wine with the region’s renowned seafood and make your way to any of over 40 cellar doors, sampling Marlborough’s internationally-acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc.

These road trips are guaranteed to rank among your best mini breaks ever!     

For more information about planning your journey: www.classicwinetrail.co.nz

It’s hard to find drinking partners when riesling’s on the table. Why? Apparently many people (my friends included) find riesling too sweet. New Zealand’s vignerons have listened and are now producing rieslings to suit all tastes.    

The relatively high acidity levels in wine from many of New Zealand’s wine regions demand that the tangy acidity be balanced by a hint of sweetness. I like my riesling slightly sweet, so these drops pamper my palate. They don’t need to be partnered with food but for those who like wine matching I’d recommend light curries and spicy Asian dishes. 

For those who fancy a drier riesling there are now many local examples to try along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. These wines are more food-friendly than their sweeter counterparts. In an effort to convince my friends to return to riesling I matched seared scallops liberally splashed with lemon juice with Te Whare Ra Riesling ‘D’ 2011. From Marlborough, it’s bone-dry. The taste combination returned them to riesling. Success! 

My next challenge? Tempting their taste buds with sweeter rieslings.

www.classicwinetrail.co.nz

If you’re looking for food, wine and fun to compliment your rugby during the World Cup, get yourself some wheels and join the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail “Conga Line”.

The 380km Trail takes you through leading wine and food regions including Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay.

Coupled with the scenery and REAL New Zealand Festival events taking place, it will make for the road trip of a life time.

Nail your country’s colours to your vehicle if you’re brave enough, and join the banter with others on the journey about why your team is so great. Compare notes on where to taste a top-notch chardonnay, pinot, sauvignon or even local beer.

Sign up to the Conga Line at www.classicwinetrail.co.nz and you’ll get regular email updates about great deals offered by businesses along the Trail keen to see you during the tournament. A case of wine is also up for grabs.

Keep up to speed on the festivities and deals by monitoring www.facebook.com/classicwinetrail and feel free to upload your own pics, observations, or theories about who will be the last team standing come October 23.

Look out for the All Blacks-themed campervan joining the Conga Line courtesy of Air New Zealand and Britz http://rugby.airnzcampervans.com/vans/McCaw

These days, doctors are pretty much prescribing red wine. They’re telling people a glass or two a day is good for their health. Just look at the French, heart disease hardly touches the population.

Although red wine has been touted for years as a heart benefit, we were never really told why. Now the medical profession has let slip that it’s red wine’s effect on raising Omega-3 levels that has a lot to do with it. Omega-3, though it sounds like a science-fiction TV series, is an unsaturated fatty acid which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Additional Omega-3 benefits include fighting depression and reducing the risk of stroke.

Those same doctors now also reckon a quiet tipple in the evening can help prevent physical disabilities, help fight Alzheimer's disease and decrease the risk of lung cancer in men. It’s magic! The best part about it is you don’t even need a prescription to get your hands on the stuff.

Take your heart to a health retreat by travelling the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. With more than 100 cellar doors along the route it’s likely to be years before you’ll ever need a doctor again www.classicwinetrail.co.nz

The unassuming Wellington suburb of Miramar may seem like an unlikely home for New Zealand’s film industry, however with 1200 contractors from around the world working on The Hobbit currently residing there, the locals joke it’s New Zealand’s answer to Hollywood. 

With the arrival of the film industry has emerged a growing food scene. The hard working actors, set producers and their colleagues want to eat locally, providing the impetus for the new Miramar eateries. Restaurants, cafes and foods stores now share the suburb with a multitude of beauty and dog grooming parlours – just like in Beverly Hills!   

The Californian contractors are apparently the biggest supporters of recently opened Mexican café-bar La Boca Loca Taqueria. These expats quell their homesickness with burritos and tacos for lunch.   

Being the epicentre of the film industry, Miramar provides a slice of cosmopolitan flavour you won’t experience anywhere else along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. It’s easy to spot the French contractors, drinking espresso coffees and enjoying wine with lunch at Coco at the Roxy.

Tulsi brings a contemporary twist to Indian cuisine, with its lightly spiced dishes and stylish modern décor. Apparently Brad Pitt stopped by last time he was in the area. 

So as you travel the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail be sure to spend some time in Miramar dining with the locals – you may even spot a celebrity or two… 

For more dining hot spots along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, take a look at http://www.classicwinetrail.co.nz/winefood.html

If your holiday is all about time for two, you’ll love the romantic retreats and wine and dine experiences of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail.

Hawke’s Bay boasts a multitude of award winning winery restaurants to while away the hours at. During the summer months, enjoy a languid lunch over looking the ocean at Elephant Hill. If you’re visiting in winter, it’s hard to beat dining by the open fire at Craggy Range’s Terrôir restaurant. 

Take time out from the wineries, seeing the highlights of the art deco city of Napier, on a guided tour in a 1930s classic car www.artdeconapier.com.  

For a spectacular round of golf, head to Cape Kidnappers International Golf Course, which sits 140 metres above sea level on dramatic cliff tops with views of the Pacific Ocean www.capekidnappers.com.   

Or explore the dramatic cape by luxury Range Rover to view up close the world’s largest, most accessible, mainland Gannet Colony www.gannetsafaris.co.nz. 

For romantic accommodation we suggest:-

Breckenridge Lodge, Taradale www.breckenridgelodge.co.nz

Mangapapa Petit Hotel, Havelock North www.mangapapa.co.nz

McHardy Lodge, Napier www.mchardylodge.com

Millar Road, Haumoana www.millarroad.co.nz

The Farm, Cape Kidnappers www.capekidnappers.com 

Drive south along State Highway 2 through rolling farmland to the Wairarapa.  

Go all out with a scenic helicopter flight to Wharekauhau Country Estate for lunch, enjoying breathtaking views of magnificent Palliser Bay before being set down outside one of New Zealand’s most exclusive lodges.  Enjoy a gourmet dinner and some of the finest local wines. Better still, stay the night www.wharekauhau.co.nz  

Be sure to discover Martinborough’s boutique family-owned vineyards. Hire bikes and picnic amongst the vines www.march-hare.co.nz.

Finish the day with dinner at Wendy Campbell’s French Bistro.

Explore the colonial village of Greytown, with its home ware, art and antiques galleries.    

For a romantic night book into:-

Wharekauhau Country Estate www.wharekauhau.co.nz

Parehua Country Estate, Martinborough www.parehua.co.nz 

A 90 minute drive away is Wellington, known for its vibrant cultural scene and nightlife, along with some of New Zealand's finest restaurants. 

Walk around downtown and harbour-side, visit galleries and the National Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa before shopping in Lambton Quay.  Follow the Writers Walk around the waterfront and do what the locals do – people watch in one of the many cafes.   

We all know that food is way to a man’s heart, so newly weds should join a Zest Walking Gourmet tour to discover the city’s best foodie spots www.zest.co.nz  

Courtenay Place comes alive after dark, with restaurants, bars, cafes, cinemas and theatres.  Take a walk along Cuba Street for live music, a late night wine bar or cocktails at local hideaways like The Matterhorn, Motel or Hawthorn Lounge. 

Romantic dining options in abundance in this harbour side city. Our favourites include:-

·  Martin Bosley’s Yacht Club Restaurant

·  Logan Brown

·  Hippopotamus at Museum Art Hotel

·  The Ambeli

Honeymooners will enjoy staying at:-

Museum Hotel www.museumhotel.co.nz

Bolton Hotel www.boltonhotel.co.nz 

Cross Cook Strait to Marlborough in the South Island. Experience “Kaitaki Plus” on board the Interislander ferry, a private lounge with complimentary breakfast and beverages, including beer and wine, snacks and internet www.interislander.co.nz  

Take a twilight cruise over the summer season in the Marlborough Sounds accompanied with local wines and seafood www.cougarline.co.nz or www.marlboroughtravel.co.nz 

Then spend a night or two enjoying the tranquillity of the Marlborough Sounds:-

Bay of Many Coves Resort www.bayofmanycoves.co.nz

Lochmara Lodge www.lochmara.co.nz 

Or if you prefer the mainland try:-

BEC Lodge, www.beclodge.co.nz

Marlborough Vintners Hotel, Rapaura Road www.mvh.co.nz

 Vintners Retreat, Rapaura Road www.vintnersretreat.co.nz

Old Saint Marys Convent, Rapaura Road www.convent.co.nz

St Leonards Vineyards Cottages, www.stleonards.co.nz 

Marlborough wowed the world with Sauvignon Blanc. To make the most of the region’s 43 cellar doors, tour the wineries with a guide:-

Marlborough Travel, www.marlboroughtravel.co.nz

Sounds Connection, www.soundsconnection.co.nz

Relax amongst the vines at a winery restaurant or indulge at one of the regions fine dining restaurants. Here’s some suggestions:-

·    The Portage Resort Hotel: Te Weka Restaurant

·    Allan Scott Wines: Twelve Trees Restaurant

·    Herzog Winery and Luxury Restaurant

·    Hotel D’Urville

For more romantic ideas along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail take a look at http://www.classicwinetrail.co.nz/luxury.html