Summer Visitors at the Cellar Door

We’ve been truly heartened by the number of visitors finding their way to our cellar door this season, both from here at home and from further afield. From locals and fellow Kiwis exploring Marlborough, to travellers from Europe, North America, Asia and beyond, our little corner of the region has been buzzing with accents, stories, and shared moments over a glass of wine. It’s a reminder of just how powerful wine tourism can be in bringing people together — near and far.

The cellar door remains at the heart of that experience. It’s where visitors move beyond simply tasting wine to forming a genuine connection with our place, our people, and our story. Conversations flow easily across the tasting bench — about harvests, travel adventures, and favourite vintages — creating memories that last far longer than the final sip. For many guests, this personal connection is what turns a visit into a lifelong loyalty.

Of course, with all that enthusiasm, things can get delightfully hectic. One particularly busy afternoon saw the cellar door packed to the brim, glasses stacking up faster than we could manage. Enter Jane, who heroically stepped in to help wash glasses, sleeves rolled up and laughing as she kept the tasting room running smoothly. It was a perfect snapshot of the warmth and teamwork that defines our cellar door on its busiest days.

Beyond the tasting bench, visitors are invited to wander through our award-winning native garden — a tranquil space that showcases the beauty of local flora — and explore the on-site art gallery featuring works by Clarry Neame and Rowan Belcher. Together, wine, nature, and art create an experience that’s uniquely Hunter’s, and one our guests continue to treasure.