Wellington is the capitol of New Zealand and well-known as a city that offers excellent choice in cuisine. However, if looking a more in-depth wine experience, especially around the Pinot Noir grape, the Wairarapa region & the small town of Martinborough is only an hour's drive and easily accessible from the city in a day.
Yields from this area are low, with wineries often growing and making the wine personally. With the explosion of Marlborough the local government commissioned finding suitable places to grow wine and Martinborough was Identified as having similar conditions to Burgundy.
Once over the mountains from the city one will find the region is dead flat thanks to river flow movement over millenia. The poor soils sit on free-draining gravel- perfect for Pinot and easy biking through country roads.
Wellington is often compared to San Francisco in the United States. Located at the southern tip of the island, this city on the water offers so much to do including golf, fantastic museums, opportunities to experience nature up-close, beer tastings, and guided tours.