A wonderful variety of world-class wine is the main reason people visit Blenheim, Marlborough's biggest town and the centre of the region's wine district. Vineyards cover much of the fertile Wairau Plains between Blenheim and the township of Renwick to the west.

Brancott Estate, formerly Montana Wines, is one of the leading brands and has grown wine in Marlborough since the 1970s. It is now the largest winery in the country, but there are around 50 wineries in the area, including the very popular Cloudy Bay.

Blenheim wineries produce acclaimed chardonnay, riesling, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and pinot noir, but despite the excellence of these other wines, the area remains best known for its sauvignon blanc, which is as good as you'll taste anywhere in the world.