Located within The Vines Village in Marlborough, Cheese & Cheers is the region's dedicated whisky and artisan cheese tasting bar. The venue showcases South Island artisan cheeses alongside a cellar boasting more than 100 New Zealand whiskies and liqueurs, plus international drams, seasonal cocktails, and local wine and beer.
Guests can drop in or reserve curated tasting flights pairing distinct whisky cask finishes with handcrafted cheeses from makers like Whitestone and Little River. Alongside flights, the bar serves specialty cheesy fare like hot toasties on artisan sourdough focaccia and warm baked brie or camembert.
Operating with an on- and off-licence, Cheese & Cheers also offers bottle sales, Prenzel gourmet products, unique giftware, and vouchers. They also host community gatherings, including monthly Silent Book Club evenings and visiting distiller tasting events.
Marlborough is universally celebrated for its sprawling vineyards and world-class Sauvignon Blanc, but nestled along Rapaura Road inside The Vines Village lies an entirely different tasting room experience: Cheese & Cheers. As Marlborough’s only dedicated whisky and cheese tasting bar, it offers visitors a relaxed setting to explore regional dairy craft and New Zealand’s burgeoning spirits movement.
At the heart of Cheese & Cheers is an extensive collection of over 100 New Zealand whiskies and regional liqueurs, alongside a curated lineup of international bottles. Rather than rushing a standard pour, the venue invites visitors to explore distinct flavour profiles through structured tasting flights. These include sets focused on varied cask maturations, bourbon-style and wood-smoked profiles, sweeter drams in the 'Sugar & Spice' lineup, and rare, small-batch premium releases.
Whisky and cheese share complex ageing processes, and the food menu at Cheese & Cheers is designed to complement every pour. The bar highlights premier producers from across the South Island, notably Whitestone Cheese from Oamaru and Little River Estate. Guests can sample curated tasting boards featuring four South Island cheeses served with fresh crackers, sourdough bread, and dips.
For those craving something hot and comforting, the kitchen prepares warm specialties such as baked Whitestone Mt Domett Brie infused with New Zealand honey, olive oil, and crunchy walnuts, or Little River Camembert baked with tart dried cranberries. Gourmet cheese toasties are also grilled fresh using Minghettis sourdough focaccia bread.
Beyond walk-in tastings and pre-booked flights, Cheese & Cheers operates with a full off-licence. Visitors can browse shelves packed with hard-to-find New Zealand spirits, Prenzel gourmet food items, and giftware, or take home unopened bottles discovered during their tasting.
Cheese & Cheers also serves as a vibrant social hub within The Vines Village. On the first Wednesday of every month, it hosts a local chapter of the global Silent Book Club, where readers settle into the lounge for an evening of quiet reading, drinks, and cheese boards. Regular in-store events, such as guest distiller tastings with local craft producers like Kiwi Spirit Distillery, give spirit enthusiasts the opportunity to meet independent makers directly.