Hans Herzog Vineyard New Zealand: Yes to Wine, Pass on Food

Hans Herzog Restaurant Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

Is it possible to eat and drink anymore than I did on this trip? Of course it is. After a day of golf and wine tasting (see Wine Station and Wine Bike Tour), it was time for an upscale meal at one of the most famous vineyards – Hans Herzog. I thought it would be the same as Le Bon Vivant in Franschhoek but came away disappointed. Here’s why:

Nebbiolo

In Franschhoek I had Rupert (see Rupert Wines Franschhoek: A Must Drink for Wine Enthusiasts). In Blenheim I have Hans. The problem is that I ordered Nebbiolo instead of the Montepulciano which I tried at the Wine Station. I fell for Hans’s marketing who described this wine with more exclamations about its boldness than it deserved. To salvage this problem, I bought a bottle of Montepulciano to take home.

Cheese Platter

Hans’s cheese platter was not impressive. I’ve had nicer spreads on airplanes (see Cathay Pacific First Class JFK-HKG: 15.5 Hours of Bliss).

Beef Tartare

Hans’s tartare was decent but nothing exceptional.

Main Plate

The main course was as sad as the cheese platter. It was trying to be fancy but there was no substance.

Creme Burlee

Dessert was fine but like everything else, not fantastic.

Overall

$220 of which $95 was wine is too much to spend for an average dinner. Go to Hans for wine. Don’t go for food.

TPOL’s TIP: Hans contact info: 81 Jeffries Rd, Marlborough 7273, New Zealand, +64 3-572 8770