Flying into Wellington, New Zealand? Visit the Wellington region's own vineyard area.

The Martinborough Vineyards are situated in the Wairarapa, north east of Wellington.

One of the towns great assets is it’s traditional town square, centre of a village where the streets are laid out in the shape of the Union Jack flag.

Martinborough is a quaint wine village. It was not always so. It was planned by an early settler/farmer John Martin. He set out the town streets using the Crosses on the Union Jack as a guide. He named the streets after cities and towns he had visited on a world trip. Our first vineyard was on New York Street!

The Murdoch James main vineyard is a Blue rock, 10 kms from the Martinborough Town Square. This area was settled by sheep farmers in the early 1800’s. Originally Blue Rock Station stretched from Bull Hill to Martinborough. Now it is a 70 acre north facing vineyard, sheltered by the Aorangi Ranges and bordered by the Dry River. The sunny slopes produce premium Pinot Noir, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay. The main focus is on Pinot Noir.

Roger and Jill Fraser have been making wine since 1986. The first vintages won gold medals and trophies and encouraged them to expand. From 12 acres on the Martinborough Terraces they purchased Blue Rock in 1998. Their production increased from 4 thousand bottles to six thousand cases of premium wines! Their wine philosophy is shared by Barbara Turner, the viticulturist, and David Bloomfield, winemaker. The vineyards are cropped at low levels, management is based on organic sustainable practices and soil health is considered the key to produce consistent premium wines.

The beautiful vineyard is a natural destination for visitors and when the winery was upgraded a large restaurant/tasting area was added. Caves were excavated underground and large cellars created. The grounds are landscaped with native flora and local rock walls abound. It is a popular wedding venue. With the Dry River winding around the property and mature shade trees and a man-made lake it is just right for eating out of doors or on the sunny café deck.