Blenheim is located in the heart of the Marlborough wine region, which is one of the most famous wine producing areas in NZ. Turns out it is also a fun place to take kids, too!
My partner and I love going wine tasting. So when we were looking for kid-friendly wineries to try in Blenheim to enjoy the world famous Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, we prioritized places with outdoor space for our toddler to play while the adults enjoyed a glass of wine.
Our three favorite wineries to bring your littles in Blenheim were:
Blenheim is on the traditional lands of the Māori.
Our Favorite Family-Friendly Wineries in Blenheim
Wairau River Wines
Wairau River winery is known for their Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, which happen to be my favorite wine.
We decided to visit this winery to taste their delicious wines and try their restaurant for lunch. The staff allowed us to sit our toddler on top of the bar while we wine tasted, were very friendly with our little one, and laughed as we practiced “cheers” with each other (our toddler gave a “clink” with her water bottle, of course).
Lunch and the suggested wine pairings were served on long picnic tables with shade on the outdoor patio, with views of green grass and vines all around. When our toddler was done eating and ready to move, we walked her around the grounds and through a display of outdoor sculptures.
The Vines Village
If you’re looking for a less formal way to explore the Malborough wine region, check out the Vines Village.
It is a smorgasbord of restaurants and wine cellars, all with outdoor seating on a lake.
If you’re in the mood for something other than wine, check out the Gin Room to taste their award-winning gin.
We stopped here to grab dessert at the Vines Café Larder and Gifts and play on the playground.
Nautilus Estate
Nautilus Estate is located just across the street from Waiaru Wines.
It is a small winery, with a small tasting room, and tasty wines.
We arrived right when it opened and were the only wine tasters at the time. The wine staff were very friendly with our little family, and very patient with me while I took my wine outside to entertain our kiddo.
For some reason, our toddler loved playing with the decorative rocks just outside the front door of the winery. I loved the Chardonnay so much that we took home a few bottles as gifts.
The Blenheim wine scene did not disappoint. We were happy to find at least a couple wineries that had ample outdoor space and welcomed families like ours. While we saw other families enjoying the sunshine and wine at both of these wineries, we did not meet any other families of color.
Evenso, as a mixed race family I felt overall safe and welcome at the wineries we attended. Staff were always kind and flexible with our toddler, and even let her sit at the bar with us to “cheers” our wine glasses or water bottles, for the toddler, of course.
I only wish I had more room in my luggage to bring home more wine!
Have you been to Blenheim to wine taste with your kids in tow? Where are your favorite places to take your family? Share in the comments below.
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting the South Island of New Zealand with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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