Tour through Hawke’s Bay Wineries
On a recent trip to Hawke’s Bay, I was impressed by the diversity and quality of the cellar door experiences. Here are some of the hightlights.
De La Terre
Drive out along Highway 50 towards Taihape and you will find De La Terre, the winery of Tony and Kaye Pritchard. Tony makes wine from a number of grape varieties but in recent years is experimenting with different styles of Chardonnay, Syrah and Tannat, a black grape from Southwest France. They also make sparkling wines which Tony disgorges by hand. From the kitchen, you can enjoy freshly-baked pizzas.
Te Mata
Te Mata Estate, one of New Zealand’s oldest wineries dating from 1896, offers three tasting experiences: at the cellar door, a private tasting in the Coleraine Room which looks out to the vineyards or the Heritage Tour of the vineyards and winery followed by a tasting of 5 premium wines. You can visit their website here.
Craggy Range
In Hawke’s Bay, it is hard to go past the restaurant and cellar door of Craggy Range. Chef Casey McDonald has created an innovative menu inspired by the fresh vegetables from their extensive gardens and glass houses and then paired with an impressive line-up of Craggy Range Wines. You can also opt for the Wine Experience sessions which vary from a seated tasting and tour or the Giants Estate experience over 2 hours including a guided tour and tasting of Craggy Range’s prestige collection of wines. You can visit their website here.
Radburn Cellars
Havelock North Village
In Havelock North village, you can taste local wines and eat well at Mary’s (part of Craggy Range) or at Smith and Sheth which offer the Meet our Family Tasting Flight or individual tasting in the Trust Us Tasting Flight
Around the Bridge Pa triangle there are many options
Oak Estate
Trinity Hill
Swift Wines
Paritua
Hastings Village
Cellar 495
Decibel Wines
have opened an urban tasting room to showcase Daniel Brennan’s diverse range of wines from full-bodied reds to aromatic whites and sparkling Pet Nats. Just down the road, Master of Wine Michael Henley has established the winebar 495 which offers
To find more information, visit Hawke's Bay Winegrowers website.
Celia Hay
January 2025
