Tucked into the wine country of Martinborough, The Grocer is the kind of neighbourhood deli that makes you understand why people romanticise small-town life. Owner Celia Jenkins has created a space that feels like a traditional grocery store but stocks itself like a carefully curated food hall, locally produced artisan baking, local cheeses ranging from sharp aged cheddars to soft spreadable numbers that pair beautifully with the honey selection, and enough specialty foods to make even a simple pantry feel cosmopolitan.

The fresh flowers add a splash of colour at the entrence to this most wonderful store, while the olive oils and preserves speak to both Mediterranean influences and Kiwi ingenuity. There’s a distinct emphasis on locally made and organic products, the sort of thing that matters when you know the producers are probably your neighbours or at least within a reasonable driving distance.

Sweet treats jostle for space with savoury options—think artisan crackers, chutneys that could rescue even the most basic cheese board, and condiments interesting enough to warrant their own tasting notes.

Whether you’re stocking up for a weekend at a nearby vineyard, assembling a picnic for the Wairarapa countryside, or just upgrading your weeknight dinner situation, The Grocer delivers that small-shop charm where the owner actually knows what’s good and isn’t shy about pointing you toward it.

Plus, they offer online ordering with home delivery across New Zealand, so even if you’re nowhere near Martinborough, you can still pretend you popped in for a visit.