There’s usually a moment when someone visits us for the first time, looks at the wall of wine and asks: “Wait… I pour it myself?”
You sure do.
Our self-serve wine dispensers are a pretty big part of what makes Wine + Food Experience Marlborough different - but they’re not just here because pouring your own wine is fun. Although, admittedly, it is. They give you the freedom to explore Marlborough wine completely differently.
So, how do the dispensers work exactly?
If you’ve never used a wine dispenser before, don’t worry. You don’t need instructions, a wine qualification or any idea what you’re doing. When you arrive, we’ll get you set up with a wine card. From there, the wine wall is yours to explore.
Find something that catches your eye, pop your card into the dispenser and choose your pour:
A taste - for when you’re curious.
A half glass - for when you’re intrigued.
A full glass - for when you’ve found the one.
Press the button and the machine does the rest. It really is that easy.
Why have one wine when you an try… quite a few?
This is really where the fun starts. Normally, ordering wine means making a decision. You look at a wine list, pick something you think you’ll like and commit to a glass or bottle. However - our dispensers let you do the opposite.
Try the wine with the label you’ve always wondered about. Compare two Sauvignon Blancs side by side from different producers. Have a taste of the Chardonnay even though you are absolutely certain you’re not a Chardonnay person. Go back to the one you loved and pour a full glass. Or continue your very important research.
There’s no right order and no expectation that you need to know anything about wine before you start. That’s kind of the point.
A lot of Marlborough, under one roof
One of the reasons Wine + Food Experience Marlborough exists is because there is an enormous amount of wine being made in this region and it’s impossible to experience all of it in one afternoon of cellar-door hopping. Our dispensers allow us to bring wines from producers across Marlborough together in one central Blenheim location. You’ll find familiar names alongside boutique producers you may never have tried before. Different varieties. Different subregions. Different winemaking styles.
For visitors, it’s a chance to taste their way around Marlborough without travelling quite so far. And for locals? It’s surprising how many wines made right here in our backyard we haven’t actually tried.
They’re clever little machines, too
There’s more going on behind the scenes than simply pressing a button and watching wine appear. Once a bottle is opened, exposure to oxygen starts changing the wine. That’s perfectly fine when a bottle is being enjoyed relatively quickly, but it becomes more challenging when you want to offer a large and varied selection of wines by the glass.
Our dispensing system helps preserve the wine after opening, protecting it from oxidation and helping keep each pour in the condition the winemaker intended. It also delivers controlled pour sizes, which means you can have that small taste without an entire bottle needing to be opened just for you.
Clever, really.
Our advice? Start with what you know... then get curious
If you’re standing in front of the dispensers wondering where on earth to begin, here’s our advice:
Start with something familiar. If you’re a Sauvignon Blanc drinker, find one that sounds good and give it a taste. Then try another. Maybe move into Riesling or Pinot Gris. Give Chardonnay a go. Head towards the Rosé. Eventually find yourself at Pinot Noir.
Or completely ignore that advice and start wherever you like!
Our team is always around if you’d like recommendations, want to compare particular styles or simply need someone to point you towards something interesting. You can make the experience as guided or as independent as you want.
Add food and call it.. Research?
Of course, wine gets even more interesting once food arrives. Grab a cheese board, order a seafood platter or put a few plates in the middle of the table and start experimenting - you never know - a wine you loved on its own might taste completely different alongside our local cheeses!
And something you weren’t sure about on the first sip might suddenly make complete sense when paired with the right dish. This is also where a Wine Flight comes into its own, giving you the chance to explore a few different wines alongside your food rather than sticking with one.
Come have a pour
Whether you’re visiting Marlborough and want to experience more of the region’s wines, or you’re a local who feels like trying something different, come in and have a play. Get your Wine Card, head to the dispensers and start exploring.
The only difficult part is deciding what to pour first.
