Milcrest Estate – Luxury Vineyard Accommodations in Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson, New Zealand offers a unique setting for wine lovers and adventurous spirits alike.

Set on the northern tip of New Zealand’s south island, the area offers vineyards, beaches, national parks, and more sunshine than the rest of New Zealand!

If you want a true vineyard escape, Milcrest Estate, centrally located within the region, has it all: luxury accommodations set among vineyards with a scenic backdrop of green hills and perhaps most important, their own wines for you to enjoy.

So, as I tell you about Milcrest Estate and the surrounding region… sit back, relax, and start planning your next romantic getaway right here!

The Accommodations:

Milcrest Estate (in Hope, Nelson) opened to the public in January 2010, offering intimate Bed & Breakfast-style accommodations. Discreetly located away from main roads, this boutique vineyard offers personal attention for a maximum of 4 guests per night (only 2 rooms).

Whether you choose the Pinot Noir Suite or Sauvignon Suite, you’ll enjoy top-notch amenities including a complimentary bottle of wine, goose down duvets, Wi-Fi, and an iPod dock.

Both rooms offer great views of the vineyards and hills.

Unwind at the end of the day with a bottle of wine on your own private patio. The rooms also offer a mini fridge and microwave, the perfect setup for enjoying light appetizers.

Breakfast is served in-room with the choice of a continental (included) or a hot breakfast (nominal fee).

In the summer months, Milcrest Estate also offers guests a barbecue dinner where they serve up local specialties including whitebait, venison, and fresh fish paired with their very own wines.

Coming soon…  a swimming pool! But until then, you can enjoy the bubbling hot tub.

Prices range between US $105-120 per night, depending on the season.

The Wine:

Milcrest Estate currently produces 3 different wines under their own label: Sauvignon Blanc (of course, it’s New Zealand after all!), Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir.

The Nelson wine-growing region is the 8^th largest in the country and because of the amount of sunshine, the region produces some amazing aromatic wines.

Milcrest Estate is situated on an ancient alluvial river plain, allowing great drainage as well as stones that naturally heat the grapes at night.

This is a true microclimate unique to Milcrest Estate, which the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris, in particular, love.

Check out this wine review by Wine Vault TV:

Planning your stay in Nelson:

If you really want to do the region justice, you’ll need at least a week because there are so many things to do. I’d recommend checking out the official Nelson website, one of the most comprehensive and informative tourism websites I’ve seen.

Other Wineries

There are 10 wineries within 6 kilometers of Milcrest Estate, including Waimea Estate, Fossil Ridge, Brightwater Vineyards, and Richmond Plains for organic wine. Make sure you also check out Neudorf and Rimu Grove, about a 15-minute drive.

Adventure

If you love the great outdoors, make time (as in a few days) to explore Abel Tasman National Park, which is known for its golden beaches, rich estuaries, and rocky hills. Take one of New Zealand’s Great Walks (an easy 3-5 day hike) along the coast or spend a few days hiking the Inland Track. For those who would prefer to be on the water, plan a sailing or kayaking adventure.

Snow bunnies can hit up Rainbow Ski Field in the winter, a 55-minute drive from Milcrest Estate.

Events:

Planning a trip to Milcrest Estate around the time of these festivals or events could be a good idea, as they are in very close proximity:

Nelson’s International Jazz Festival – January

Brightwater Wine & food Festival – February

Rugby World Cup - September, October 2011 (games held around the country)

Getting there:

Milcrest Estate is about a 15-minute drive from Nelson airport, the fourth busiest in New Zealand. There are also vehicle rentals, ferries, and bus services to the region.

If you really want to explore the region and have a limited amount of time, a car rental is probably your best option. However, the Nelson tourism website or Milcrest Estate owner, Terry Milton, can answer any specific questions.