Making the most of your time in a Great Wine Capital of the world
This is a diverse growing region capable of producing a wide range of varietals; best known for Syrah, Chardonnay and Merlot Cabernet blends. Come and try our wines for yourself and meet the colourful characters that make them in a Great Wine Capital of the world.
For a more technical overview of our sub-regions, check out the Hawke's Bay Wine website.
Hawke's Bay's northern most wine region starts on the final stretches of the Napier-Taupo road, where Linden Estate offers an exceptional experience alongside on-site dinning options from Valley D'Vine Restaurant.
On the airport side of Bayview, local favourites Crab Farm Winery hold court. The rustic-inspired cellar door offers delightful tastings, while the restaurant is perfect for group bookings. Pop next door to The Art Shed for creations by local artists.
The quaint fishing village of Ahuriri is home to Tony Bish Wines and the The Urban Winery - housed in the historic National Tobacco building. Step inside and you'll immediately be taken by the stunning Taransaud French Oak 'Ovum' egg wine barrel. By appointment only
If you're looking for vintage Hawke's Bay experiences, they don't come much more 'Hawke's Bay' than Taradale's Mission Estate Winery and Church Road Winery - #1 and #3 respectively on the list of New Zealand's oldest wineries. Absolute-must visits, with great restaurant experiences as well.
Over in Meeanee, Brookfields Winery is a picturesque spot with its beautiful rose garden and hand-made brick winery. Tastings are a pleasure, while it would be rude not to take up a seat in the sun to enjoy a delicious platter.
Further afield and accessible from the Napier-Taihape Road, but absolutely worth the drive are De La Terre and Monowai Estate. De La Terre is an intimate and informative experience, with an onsite cafe offering highly-regarded wood-fired pizzas. Monowai is a bookings-only experience in their grounds in the Crownthorpe wine growing district, catering for groups of 6-12.
Over in Puketapu, Shed530 Estate offers a sun-soaked setting with large indoor and outdoor settings, and a tasting menu of snacks and more substantial options.
Covering 800ha, the internationally-regarded Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district is determined by the gravelly soils laid down by the old Ngaruroro River, exposed after huge floods in the 1860s. Pask Winery cellar door, on the outskirts of Hastings city, are open for business after extensive renovations, something worth getting excited about! Element Wines, the smallest winery in the Gimblett Gravels, offer appointment made tastings, or join an organised guided experience.
Unison Vineyard and Trinity Hill Winery round out the Gimblett Gravels cellar doors. Unison sits in roughly the centre of the Gimblett Gravels, and boasts a Mediterranean-styled cellar door for tastings, and suitable named eatery, The Gravels. The impressive Trinity Hill winery at the western edge of the Gimblett Gravels is a favourite for locals and visitors alike, offering platters to complement their exceptional wines.
Delineated by three roads: Ngatarawa Road, State Highway 50 and Maraekakaho Road, forming a triangle conveniently known as the Bridge Pa Triangle, is home to wineries that come together in January for the Bridge Pa Wine Festival.
Ash Ridge Winery compliments their excellent wines with famous pizzas. Round the corner, Oak Estate's relaxed vibe, tasty drops and delicious kitchen morsels has won them plenty of friends. Further down Ngatarawa Road in the famous Stables building is Radburnd Cellars, producers of premium small parcel wines and available for appointment tastings.
Completing the triangle on Maraekakaho Road are Abbey Estate - famous for weekends of live music, an extensive beer range and delicious wines. Just a stone's throw along, the distinctive design of Alpha Domus wine bottles match the understated elegance of the cellar door.
Sileni Estates' grand premises are home to a renovated cellar door and expansive lawn, while just along the road, Paritua cellar door is a great addition to this famous winegrowing district, complete with courtyard to truly savour your drop.
It's just a further 10 minute drive to Hawke's Ridge - a small family owned vineyard and olive grove, serving pizzas, platters and cheese plates to complement their wines.
Decibel Wines have established an urban cellar door in the heart of Hastings, followed by a short drive to Havelock North village to discover Smith & Sheth's wine lounge/ Oenothèque, a stylish space to enjoy their stunning wines and a bite to eat. Their adjacent Heretaunga Wine Studio is the ultimate sensory wine journey through New Zealand's winegrowing regions.
Te Mata Road plays home to three wineries at contrasting stages of their journey. Village Vineyards is the quintessential family story, established by orchardist parents and their three sons. Discover Black Barn with its sprawling property, offering a cellar door experience, restaurant, and retreat accommodation. Rounding out the trio is the cellar door for the historic Te Mata Estate, with its 100+ years of winemaking pedigree and world-renowned vintages.
A short drive will have you arriving at Askerne Winery - Hawke's Bay Cellar Door of the Year for 2021. While the wine is worth the visit alone, the gourmet platters and dessert wine platter are very, very hard to pass up.
Rounding out the sub-region is of course Craggy Range - named Australasia's best vineyard in the 2021 World's Best Vineyard Awards. The stunning cellar door experience is just the start, with the property also home to New Zealand's best winery restaurant and luxury retreat accommodation.
With picture postcard views across the Cape Kidnappers, the Te Awanga winegrowing region is a favourite for locals and visitors alike. The architecturally-stunning Elephant Hill is your first stop, serving beautiful wines from their exquisite cellar door. Your obligatory Insta post is guaranteed to induce jealousy from your followers.
In complete contrast, the rustic surrounds of Clearview Estate are home to some of New Zealand's most awarded wines, with a family-friendly restaurant positively humming with the sounds of people enjoying superb wine, food and company.
Inland and at altitudes of up to 300m, Central Hawke's Bay vineyards produce some of the region's finest examples of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Junction Wines takes its name from its location at the junction of State Highways 2 and 50, and is Hawke's Bay's southernmost cellar door stop. The winery is owned by former All Black John Ashworth and family, with the cellar door located inside the home of John and Jo.
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