8 unique cellar door experiences
With more than 30 cellar doors open to the public, days of discovery await wine aficionados who want to get under the skin of Hawke’s Bay’s wine industry.
However, if you’re short on time or looking for an experience that is a little bit different, these eight unique cellar doors are sure to intrigue.
Located in the historic National Tobacco Company Building in Ahuriri, Napier, The Urban Winery is the home of Tony Bish Wines, New Zealand’s only specialist Chardonnay wine maker. Tony is also unique in that his wines are processed in concrete and French Oak eggs. He was the first to bring these eggs to New Zealand and has mastered their craft. The Urban Winery offers daily wine tastings and glimpses into the process through the beautiful barrel room with viewing window.
Church Road Winery lets visitors go behind the scenes with the winemaking team on the Versatility of the Grape Experience. This tour showcases the multiple ways that Church Road uses grapes for more than just the production of wine. From pressed juice to balsamic vinegar and barrel aged spirit, this is an informative, behind-the-scenes look at the world of wine and the adaptability of this versatile fruit. The experience concludes with a guided blind tasting of their award-winning range of wines from black glasses.
Smith & Sheth Heretaunga Wine Studio is an immersive experience where all of your senses are engaged. In a private, sensory journey by a sommelier, you will sample limited-production wines, draw exclusive samples direct from the barrel, and immerse yourself in an audio-visual journey from the safety of the intimate studio theatre.
De la Terre is the home of one of New Zealand’s most-awarded wine makers. Tony Pritchard’s unique earth brick winery is rustic and earthy, and visiting De la Terre is a true grass roots experience. Here you will taste exquisite wines from a legendary wine maker in his home environment.
Under the watchful eye of Te Mata Peak, the Craggy Range cellar door is a breath-taking setting in which to taste a selection of Craggy Range wines. However wine tasting becomes truly awe-inspiring when you visit the incredible underground cellars and Sophia Barrel Room with the Ultimate Prestige Tasting experience. Here you will tour the underground barrel hall, and fermentation cellars before experiencing Craggy Range’s Prestige Collection wines and discussing the history of Craggy Range and their winemaking philosophy.
Villa Maria Gimblett Gravels is the recently revamped offering from goliath Villa Maria, where oenophiles, under Richard Painter’s guided tuition, can indulge in a memorable experience tasting their way through Villa Maria and Esk Valley wines paired with culinary expressions of the wine, designed by renowned Chef Stephen Tindall.
Classic Kiwi hospitality with a side of sport is on offer when you visit Junction Vineyard, owned by former All Black forward John Ashworth and family. This small, boutique vineyard enjoys the long cool Central Hawkes Bay growing seasons, allowing son and winemaker Leith to produce award-winning, intense, aromatic wines. Enjoy a glass of Junction Vineyard’s finest, while browsing memorabilia from John’s career as an All Black.
Stylish and inviting, Elephant Hill is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy delicious food and stunning wines whilst taking in breath-taking views over the Pacific Ocean, Cape Kidnappers peninsula and the vineyard. Order the ‘Flight & Bites’ and you will be guided through exquisite pairings of appetisers and fine wines and discover how these different matchings impact on the experience of the wine.
With more than 30 cellar doors open to the public, days of discovery await wine aficionados who want to get under the skin of Hawke’s Bay’s wine industry.
However, if you’re short on time or looking for an experience that is a little bit different, these eight unique cellar doors are sure to intrigue.
Located in the historic National Tobacco Company Building in Ahuriri, Napier, The Urban Winery is the home of Tony Bish Wines, New Zealand’s only specialist Chardonnay wine maker. Tony is also unique in that his wines are processed in concrete and French Oak eggs. He was the first to bring these eggs to New Zealand and has mastered their craft. The Urban Winery offers daily wine tastings and glimpses into the process through the beautiful barrel room with viewing window.
Church Road Winery lets visitors go behind the scenes with the winemaking team on the Versatility of the Grape Experience. This tour showcases the multiple ways that Church Road uses grapes for more than just the production of wine. From pressed juice to balsamic vinegar and barrel aged spirit, this is an informative, behind-the-scenes look at the world of wine and the adaptability of this versatile fruit. The experience concludes with a guided blind tasting of their award-winning range of wines from black glasses.
Smith & Sheth Heretaunga Wine Studio is an immersive experience where all of your senses are engaged. In a private, sensory journey by a sommelier, you will sample limited-production wines, draw exclusive samples direct from the barrel, and immerse yourself in an audio-visual journey from the safety of the intimate studio theatre.
De la Terre is the home of one of New Zealand’s most-awarded wine makers. Tony Pritchard’s unique earth brick winery is rustic and earthy, and visiting De la Terre is a true grass roots experience. Here you will taste exquisite wines from a legendary wine maker in his home environment.
Under the watchful eye of Te Mata Peak, the Craggy Range cellar door is a breath-taking setting in which to taste a selection of Craggy Range wines. However wine tasting becomes truly awe-inspiring when you visit the incredible underground cellars and Sophia Barrel Room with the Ultimate Prestige Tasting experience. Here you will tour the underground barrel hall, and fermentation cellars before experiencing Craggy Range’s Prestige Collection wines and discussing the history of Craggy Range and their winemaking philosophy.
Villa Maria Gimblett Gravels is the recently revamped offering from goliath Villa Maria, where oenophiles, under Richard Painter’s guided tuition, can indulge in a memorable experience tasting their way through Villa Maria and Esk Valley wines paired with culinary expressions of the wine, designed by renowned Chef Stephen Tindall.
Classic Kiwi hospitality with a side of sport is on offer when you visit Junction Vineyard, owned by former All Black forward John Ashworth and family. This small, boutique vineyard enjoys the long cool Central Hawkes Bay growing seasons, allowing son and winemaker Leith to produce award-winning, intense, aromatic wines. Enjoy a glass of Junction Vineyard’s finest, while browsing memorabilia from John’s career as an All Black.
Stylish and inviting, Elephant Hill is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy delicious food and stunning wines whilst taking in breath-taking views over the Pacific Ocean, Cape Kidnappers peninsula and the vineyard. Order the ‘Flight & Bites’ and you will be guided through exquisite pairings of appetisers and fine wines and discover how these different matchings impact on the experience of the wine.
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