ABOUT THE VINES VILLAGE

Based in Marlborough, New Zealand - the internationally renowned Sauvignon Blanc wine capital of the world, The Vines Village is a boutique collection of family owned businesses including a wine and gin cellar doors, cafe, larder and collection of boutique stores and activities set amongst 4 acres of expansive lakeside grounds and gardens surrounded by incredible vineyard vista's.

An essential stop on your wine journey through Marlborough, the Vines Village has won many Business Awards and accolades and is just 12 minutes drive from central Blenheim and is nestled amongst many of the region's best cellar doors along the famous 'Golden Mile'.
It is the perfect place to explore, taste some of Marlborough's finest produce or simply relax with the family a sweet treat in a bean bag under a tree.

Keep up to date with the many events and activities at facebook.com/vinesvillage.

Read about the Vines Village here as seen in the Sounds Good Magazine.

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VIDEO

JEFF & TIM

THE OWNERS

The Vines Village is owned by twin brothers Jeff and Tim Fulton who are passionate about wine and gin tourism and bought the Vines Village in October 2013, and have since been developing the Village with visiting and local family's in mind. All the stores and cafe have been renovated and have added an outdoor theatre, playgrounds, walking and bike tracks, sports field, outdoor chess and petanque court, a cycle network, gin distillery and boutique accomodation.

JEFF FULTON

With a masters degree in Forestry Science, Jeff has a passion for landscaping but since 2003 has worked in the NZ music industry and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering from SAE. He has worked in the NZ music industry (have a listen) and promoted gigs and festivals in Christchurch and Auckland for 10 years and with this experience sat on the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival Committee as music advisor. Jeff managed the #vinesvillagecafe for 4 years and is passionate about environmentally friendly and sustainable preactices around the Village and region. He is also a keen cycling advocate and founder of RideTheGoldenMile - a cycle-friendly network of cellar doors, accomodation and bike hire in the Renwick/Rapaura area.

TIM FULTON

Tim is a qualified winemaker with a Diploma in Oenology and a Science degree and done vintages in the Hawkes Bay, Napa Valley and France. Wine marketing is his passion having worked for Vidal, Brancott, Kendall Jackson, Mas Daumas Gassac as well as Tourism New Zealand in London. Tim hosts regular wine tastings and has developed an online wine trading business with some iconic NZ wine brands.

Their latest projects include the Golden Mile Brewing Beer Tap Room, a poured honey operation with Taylor Pass Honey, Marlborough's rolled ice cream business with Appleby Farms and the Elemental Distillers Gin Distillery which opened at the Vines Village in May 2019. . Both own VW Kombi vans, both are fan's of cricket and Hawaiian shirts (unlike their wives) and are keen sportsmen and actively encourage visitors to the Village to head out and hire a bike, kick a ball, roll the arm or just explore, taste and relax.

Stop by and say hi!

Jeff & Tim Fulton

SUSTAINABILITY

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Here at the Vines Village we strive to always keep improving and developing initiatives to realize a sustainable future.

We are proud to have won the 2018 Hospitality NZ Award for 'Best Environmental/Sustainable Business', winner of the 'Business Innovation' category at the 2019 Marlborough Cawthron Environmental Awards and Runner up for 'Business Innovation' at the Retail NZ 2019 Awards.

We are smoke free and encourage healthy living - whether it be getting off devices to stroll the grounds, kick a ball around the sports grounds, or supporting the many local events, the Vines Village offers a fun, friendly and relaxed base to explore and cycle around the Marlborough region and a range of healthy, fresh food and organic drink options on the menu that can cater for a variety of dietary requirements.

We support a wide array of home grown and local producers and we have an on-site kitchen garden where the chefs collect herbs. We have a wide variety of fruit trees, and our own FlowHive where the happy bees pollinate the large native gardens. We have pet ducks in the pond and are dog friendly. There are all sorts of wildlife around, both local and visiting - check out #villagefurryfriends.

The Cafe uses premium Atomic Coffee and the grounds are regularly available for guests to take home to use in their own gardens. We have a full recycling regime and are part of the oil collection programme in Marlborough. In addition The Vines Village grounds have won several Garden Marlborough awards for our approach to native planting and we actively encourage the native bird life and are involved in the 'Tui to Town' native planting campaign.

We have an extensive on-site recycling system where plastics, wraps, separated glass and food scraps are all re-used. We are on a mission to reduce plastic so encourage the use of glass Keep Cup's (which can be purchased on-site) and use compostable bags, wheat straws.
Most of our drinks are now in glass so please uyoc (Use Your Own Cup) plus we recycle all our bottle and wine tops for the incredible Kidney Kids fundraising initiative.

We love our local and visiting bikers which is why we are are part of the Golden Mile Cycling Network and even have our own Cycle themed craft beer - Golden Mile Brewing. May 2019 saw the new Marlborough Roots Dry Gin Distillery (using fully traceable and foraged botanicals) open with tastings sales via the popular Gin Room.

There is a busy schedule of family friendly and community events, live music and outdoor activities at the Vines Village that are well supported to help keep the Village businesses sustainable. From outdoor kid's parties to free use of the outdoor theatre, car rallies, sports prize givings, weddings, Father's Day, Mother's Day and the annual events. See what you missed and keep an eye on what's coming up at #vinesvillageevents

We look forward to welcoming you to The Vines Village very soon.

The VV Crew
#vinesvillageenvironmental

REVIEWS

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

"It's a different kind of cafe. It's the setting that gets you in here, but the wonderful breakfast & lunch menu that will have you coming back to this small quaint and beautiful cluster of village shops. And they have a wonderful wine tasting cellar next to the cafe. We had breakfast here twice [before spending the day visiting family and other tourist locations]. With great food and impeccable service, level entry from a close car park, it is great for all ages. There is a lovely outdoor area to sit in overlooking the pond, the vegetable garden and a children’s’ play area when the weather is warm, or sit inside looking out in the winter months. Everything is good about this place, we love it and will be back next time we are visiting the area!"

Tripadvisor

"The Vines Villages is in a category all of its own, and you cannot really say you’ve seen Marlborough without making a stop here. A popular destination for locals and travelers alike, the mini ‘village’ could be described as part artisan and farmers market, part café and restaurant, and part cellar door.

The rustic charm of its historical general store facades is attractive enough, but you will be spoiled for choice as you wander from shop to café, perusing some of the locally made goods and flavours. Here you can buy anything from locally made cheeses, wines, and spirits, to ceramics and fashion. There’s plenty here to see and do including the Whitehaven Cellar Door.

Of course, no stopover is complete without treating yourself at the Vines Village Café and Express Kitchen. Here you can sample some locally prepared cuisine, match some food with Marlborough wines or taste the Golden Mile Brewing craft beers while enjoying their stunning outdoor dining area overlooking a vineyard. Or just grab a great cup of Supreme coffee, by their superstar baristas.

And with an outdoor playground and plenty of activities for the kids, this spot is also a great place for families."

Air NZ KIA ORA Magazine

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