I have to make a choice:

1) set up by travel agent for all day Guided Marlborough Wine Walk Tour. From 10:30 am to 4:30pm. tour and tasting at:
Seresin Estate Vineyard, Grove Mill Wine Co., Highfiield Estate for lunch and tasting. after lunch walk to Ponder Estate for olive oil and finale at Montana's Brancott Estate.
OR

2) My cousin in law works for Aust/NZ winery which he can call to set up a tasting/tour at his company:
I think they are Nobilo Wine Group which i think is Dryland Winery? and just walk/drive around the city and go to some winery by ourself?

Thanks in advance!

Rick

Rick - send an email to Jeremy. His email address should be in his profile. I'm sure he would have some thoughts.

Ricky:

We visited Highfield in 2003. Beautiful grounds and setting. Great lunch. We did not taste anything exciting enought to buy.

We have friend in Nelson (where we stayed) that drove. I am glad he did because driving on the opposite side of the road was difficult enough without having to find places.

Either way, we think that you will enjoy the area.

Pete and Barbara

Pete - Thanks for all your info re NZ. I just booked the trip which is going to be 16 days.
Here are my itinerary:

Napier - 3 nights with one day of "food and wine lovers delight tour"
Wellington - 1 night
Blenheim - 2 nights "wine tour set by my cousin"
Kaikour - 1 night "Fine dining, Crayfish and Wine at the Fyfe Lodge"
Christchurch - 2 nights (any suggestions )
Queenstown - 1 night - 3 day wilderness walk to Hollyford Track, includes gourmet food, jetboat down the river/lake McKerrow.
Overnight cruise thru full length of Milford fiord to the Tasman Sea on the luxury cruise.
Back to Queenstown for Shotover Jetboating.

Any suggestion on must dinning / must do at any of these city above?

I am sooo looking forward to this trip!

Sounds awesome

Ricky:

Be sure you go to Graggy Range when you are in Napier. They have a website and you can get Doug Wisor's e-mail from it. Doug was the assistant a Littorai and made wine from the grapes grown by two of my neighbors here in the Occidental Ridges before going downunder. We ate one dinner at the Mission Estate Winery and it was wonderful. As I remember, we had their Syrah with NZ lamb. We also had lunch at Craggy Range. Drive up the Sleeping Giant if you have time and look down at Craggy Range. You will not want to come down.

We did not stay in Christchurch, but we think that Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful places on earth. All of our meals were at the lodge we stayed at.

The Shotover Jet Boat is one heck of rush.

You are going to really enjoy yourself. Travel safely and have a wonderful time.

Pete and Barbara

Thanks for the advice Pete and Barbara. We will try to check those places out

Rick