The Nelson wine region is at the northern end of the South Island between the city of Nelson at the southern end and Motueka to the north. The region is bounded by mountains to the west and south and by sea to the north and east.

The region has a population of about 84,000 people, with approximately 40,000 in the city of Nelson itself. Nelson is known as the sunniest place in New Zealand, and the splendid natural beauty of the region with its mountains, lakes, forests and coastline makes it an attractive place to live, and a significant domestic tourism destination.