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. Along with tasting a vast array of Bordeaux blends featuring Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Chardonnay is shining as never before, made in a variety of styles. Syrah is also an important grape variety along with Sauvignon Blanc. Delve deeper and you will find terrific white wines made from Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc, Albarino and the Rhone favourites of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. On the red wine spectrum, you can taste wines from Tempranillo, Tannat, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Pinot Noir and more.
Pictured above: view northwest, across the Gimblett Gravels from the Bilancia vineyard on Roy's Hill.
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.
Around Havelock: Te Mata Estate
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. Pictured above, Nicholas Buck in the winery and barrel hall. 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 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. Visit their website here.
Bridge Pa Triange Subregion
Around the Bridge Pa Triangle there are many options. Kate Radburnd has recently opened a cellar door at the old Ngatarawa stables. Alpha Domus and Ash Ridge are nearby. Oak Estate, the winery of our former head cookery tutor, Stefan Loetcher is open for lunch.
Oak Estate
Stefan and Nadine Loetcher in their vineyard at Oak Estate, Bridge Pa Triangle subregion.
Roys Hill & Gimblett Gravels
Trinity Hill offers tastings of their extensive wines including aged options. Trinity Hill winemaker, Warren Gibson and his wife Lorraine Leheny have their own boutique vineyard making premium wines. Bilancia is located on a steep slope on Roy's Hill overlooking the Gimblett Gravels and I visited them here just as versaison (change of colour) was starting on the syrah grapes.
Pictured above, Lorraine and Warren in their Bilancia vineyard on Roy's Hill.
Swift Wines
Lauren Swift of Swift Wines has taken over the Stonecroft Cellardoor to show her selection of innovative Hawke's Bay wines.
Urban wine tastings Havelock North & Hastings
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
In Hastings, 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 Cellar 495 which offers an extensive winelist and full menu.
Decibel Wines
Wine Bar Cellar 495
Cellar 495 in Hastings.
Hawke's Bay FAWC Food and Wine Classic is coming up. Find out more here.
To find more information on wineries, visit Hawke's Bay Winegrowers website.
Celia Hay
January 2025