Lined with white standard roses as you enter in Summer is Hans Herzog’s cellar door. At the cellar door you’ll find the biggest selection of wine varieties in Marlborough if not New Zealand!
Hans Herzog Estate grows a diverse selection of grape varieties, including Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Known for its sustainability, the estate carefully crafts these varietals into complex blends. Notable wines include the award-winning Bordeaux-style blends and the bold yet balanced Syrah, acclaimed across global markets for their elegance and depth.
Opened in March of 2000 is “Herzog’s restaurant” (bookings are advised as opening hours change to meet the season and the restaurant can get busy). The restaurant offers a haven of sheer indulgence overlooking the precious vineyard with a team of high calibre chefs from the best establishments in Europe, serving the finest fresh market cuisine where diners are able to taste a little of the pure passion behind Herzog wines. Since opening now some 20 years ago it’s a chance to experience Herzog wines – complex, structured, yet delicate – the way there are intended: shared among friends, with fine food, in the relaxing surroundings of a roaring fire or sunny veranda.
The menu at Herzog’s restaurant is a celebration of local flavours, featuring exquisite dishes like Marlborough’s renowned green-lipped mussels. Seasonal offerings ensure fresh produce, whilst the masterful pairing of Herzog wines enhances each dining experience.
Patrons can indulge in special tasting menus crafted to reflect the vineyard’s organic bounty.
The boutique estate and restaurant is now widely acclaimed as one of the best in New Zealand.
If you can you could make it a Hans Hertzhog experience by staying at the Vineyard Cottage to complete the wine and food experience. For more info visit the following link for – The one & only vineyard cottage
The Vineyard Cottage offers a charming and intimate escape, with two elegantly appointed bedrooms and a private terrace overlooking the vineyard. Guests can enjoy modern amenities, including a fully-equipped kitchen and complimentary estate wine tastings.
The cottage provides a serene setting, perfect for those seeking a retreat immersed in nature and fine wine.
A little about the history of the Vineyard
In 1630, Hans’s ancestor Heinrich Herzog wears a ring bearing the Herzog crest when he presses it into the wax sealing an agreement to purchase a hillside vineyard towering over Switzerland’s Rhine Valley.
The Herzog’s have lived in this region for generations. First mentioned in the church almanac of 1482, they were farmers, tending their animals and modest vineyards clustered around the villages of Thal and Rheineck in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Wine growing, flows deep in the blood of Hans Herzog.
Hans was born on the same land but together with Therese established their own vineyard and winery further down the Rhine river in the Zurich wine country.
From humble beginnings in the couple’s garage, they became one of the foremost estates in the country. Therese, a committed epicure, ended her marketing career in 1992 to open a restaurant on the estate. She is a natural, vivacious host and people were soon queuing up to experience the combination of fine food, impeccable service, ambience and of course Hans’ wines: serious, handcrafted food wines. The restaurant won high praise and a prestigious Michelin Star.
Despite their success in Switzerland, Hans still sought the ideal place to produce great Bordeaux-style wine and other varieties not possible to grow in the cooler climate of Switzerland. In pursuit of his dream to find the perfect land to grow the wines he loved, his search led him to New Zealand.
He found the perfect conditions in Marlborough and bought a precious plot of land which had originally been an apple orchard in 1994. He planted the vines in 1996 and the winery followed in 1998 for the first vintage.
Once again, Herzog Estate became one of the foremost artisan wineries producing a variety of handcrafted wines exported to the finest restaurants around the world.
Absolutely worth a visit if you’re stopping through.
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Nicole Smith
in the last weekOur company had our work Christmas party here in the garden, the service was fantastic, everyone had a blast. Thank you for having us
Matt Holden
in the last weekDelicious wine in a very awkward tasting setting. We enjoyed the wine but the staff was very scattered and seems to be on a committed track versus asking me what wines I wanted to taste so I felt like I was imposing my wishes upon them. Overall not "beyond ordinary"
gabi schaniel
a week agoAn oasis, the perfect place to relax and unwind. Excellent wine and simply a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Géraldine Nauer
4 weeks agoWe spontaneously dropped by for a wine tasting. Mr. Sacherer did a fantastic job. He provided us with a wealth of information, and it was clear that he was passionate about his work and very knowledgeable. The wines were excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere!
Frank Hendriks
a month agoWe had a small tasting here and were offered four different wines. Apparently, this is changed occasionally. The wines were very good, and the lady's explanation was excellent and very good. There's plenty of information online for more information. What matters to us is how we're treated: hospitality, friendliness, and value for money. The tasting is worth sharing. 👍 You just have to ask for it.