Top 11 Local Beverages
in Wellington Region

Garage Project is an independent craft brewery from Aro Valley in Wellington, New Zealand, founded in 2011 and known for its highly experimental approach to brewing. They started in a former petrol station and quickly stood out with the project “24 beers in 24 weeks”, releasing a brand-new beer every week and earning a cult following.

The brewery’s philosophy is based on pushing the boundaries of beer styles - their beers often combine unconventional ingredients such as exotic fruits, spices, coffee, or culinary elements. Their portfolio spans a wide range of styles: from classic lagers and IPAs to sour beers, wild fermentations, and limited barrel-aged editions.

They are particularly recognized for innovative hop usage, often working with new hop varieties that highlight tropical fruit, citrus, or floral aromas. Alongside the main brewery, they operate the “Wild Workshop”, a dedicated space for spontaneous fermentation, wild yeast experiments, and barrel aging.

Garage Project combines modern brewing techniques with creative expression, making each release unique and different. Their focus is not only on flavor but on the overall experience - every beer is designed as a small conceptual project.

The brewery prefers small batches and constant innovation rather than repeating the same beer endlessly. Today, Garage Project is considered one of the most progressive craft breweries in the Southern Hemisphere, with a clear signature: beer that goes beyond the expected.Expand

Martinborough Vineyard is a family-owned winery located in the heart of the Martinborough wine region in New Zealand’s Wairarapa. Established in 1980, it was one of the pioneering estates that helped define Martinborough as a premium cool-climate region, particularly for Pinot Noir.

The vineyards are planted on free-draining, gravelly alluvial soils, where significant diurnal temperature variation supports slow ripening and natural acidity retention. The portfolio focuses on Pinot Noir, alongside Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Riesling.

Pinot Noir remains the flagship variety, known for red berry purity, fine tannins, and structural elegance. Winemaking emphasizes minimal intervention, parcel selection, and careful oak integration to preserve site expression.

The style favors balance, clarity, and age-worthiness rather than overt extraction. Vineyard management prioritizes sustainability and long-term soil health.

Martinborough Vineyard is regarded as a benchmark producer within the region, reflecting both heritage and terroir precision.Expand

Schubert Wines is an organic boutique winery located at 57 Cambridge Road, Martinborough, New Zealand. Established in 1998 by German-born winemakers Kai Schubert and Marion Deimling, both graduates of the Viticulture and Oenology University in Geisenheim, Germany, the winery was born from their global search for the ideal terroir to cultivate their favorite grape variety, Pinot Noir.

Their journey led them to Martinborough in the Wairarapa Valley, where they found the perfect climate and soil conditions for producing low-yield, high-quality grapes. Expand

Dry River is one of the pioneering and most influential wineries in Martinborough, founded in 1979 at a time when the region was only beginning to establish its viticultural identity. The vineyards lie on the Martinborough Terrace, defined by free-draining gravel soils and pronounced diurnal temperature shifts that contribute to structure and longevity in the wines.

The estate works with a low-intervention philosophy, emphasizing dry farming, careful canopy management, and strict yield control to express site and vintage with precision. Production is intentionally small and focused on a single tier of wines, avoiding secondary labels to maintain clarity of style and purpose.

Dry River is best known for Pinot Noir, but its portfolio also includes Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and, in select years, Syrah. The wines are recognized for their firm structure, layered aromatics, and clear capacity for long bottle aging.

Rather than emphasizing overt fruitiness, the style prioritizes balance, texture, and depth. Winemaking choices are guided by restraint, allowing natural acidity and phenolic detail to define the wines.

The winery does not operate a conventional cellar door and instead offers limited, pre-arranged tastings. Distribution is selective and often directed toward long-standing clients and members.

Due to its small volumes and consistent quality, Dry River is widely regarded as a benchmark producer for serious, age-worthy New Zealand wines.Expand

Ata Rangi is a family-owned winery from Martinborough, on New Zealand’s North Island, whose name in Te Reo Māori means “new beginning”. Founded in 1980 by Clive Paton, it was born from a passion for the land and a vision that the stony soils of the Martinborough Terraces could produce wines of world-class quality. Today, Ata Rangi is synonymous with some of New Zealand’s finest Pinot Noir, as well as with a deep commitment to nature, organic viticulture, and preserving the authenticity of its terroir.

Each bottle is crafted to faithfully reflect the character of the land, resulting in wines of elegance, depth, and a clearly defined identity. The winery’s strength lies in the combination of expertise and passion – from its pioneering founder to winemaker Helen Masters, whose signature style shapes the modern expression of Ata Rangi wines. Alongside the pursuit of excellence, the estate stands out for its warm family spirit, careful stewardship of the land, and its ongoing dedication to uniting tradition with innovation. Ata Rangi is more than a winery – it is a symbol of perseverance and vision, a place where nature and people work in harmony to create wines that leave a lasting impression.Expand