Sunny Wine Adventures At Cloudy Bay

New Zealand is famous for its premium wine production and the love of its natives for outdoor adventures — parachuting out of airplanes, mountain climbing with bare hands, and bungee jumping off high bridges.

Now Cloudy Bay winery, a pioneer in introducing American wine drinkers to those zesty Sauvignon Blancs from Marlborough, is partnering with Jetsetter, the members-only luxury travel site, in offering the best of both these worlds. Specifically, three separate weeklong adventures in New Zealand that include private tours, tastings, and winemaker meetings at the winery.

One of the adventures (all include six nights' accommodations) is based on sailing, a second on horseback trekking, and a third on kayaking and rafting. They're all located in the Blenheim-Marlborough area with a day spent in Cloudy Bay's vineyards and winery, which produces both white and red wines.

The horse trekking week will include trail riding across a variety of Marlborough terrains from sandy beaches to mountainside trails, while the kayaking and rafting option will include both sea and freshwater adventures, including some jet skiing.

These combined vacations will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Jetsetter website, which will also provide more details on the wine-and-adventure opportunities. The trips begin in October, with prices per person beginning at about $2,400, airfare not included. 

Who knows where this collaboration will end? Perhaps next we will have parasailing into open-top fermenters or X-gaming skateboard barrel-jumping in the barrel cellar.