In addition to having a tasting room/cellar door, Wairau Rivers serves up some really nice lunch! It was a really nice place to recharge after a few too many birthday morning tastings at nearby wineries.
They have a really lovely patio/courtyard and even though we were in the area on a super windy day (and smoky from the nearby forest fires), the eating area was shielded/covered enough that neither was an issue. They also have an extensive list of their own wines ranging outside of the typical Sauv Blanc/Pinot Noir that Marlborough is known for. Husband had a glass of albarino and I had a glass of viognier. For lunch we shared a bowl of mussel chowder (super bright with lots of herbs and lemon) and I had the cheese souffle as my main while he had the smoked salmon plate. Both came with dressed greens and his might have had some awesome potatoes. I was worried when I realized after I ordered that it was a bleu cheese souffle. I'm not the biggest fan of blue cheeses (something I'm resolving to enjoy in my 30s but I'm not quite there yet), however, it was subtle enough to add an interesting depth but not overpower the delicate souffle. It was a very rich and tasty dish overall. We finished with coffees to give us enough power to trudge out head first into the wind.
As we found pretty typical of NZ service, it was pleasant and unrushed. We hung out and just enjoyed the afternoon for a bit. read more