Hawkes Bay, with its twin cities of Napier and Hastings and the township of Havelock North, is steeped in vinous history. In the mid-1800's, as new settlers moved throughout the country to establish farms and settlements, so too did the missionaries who decided that Hawkes Bay looked eminently suitable for the production of wine.

That was in 1851 and the Mission Vineyards concept established by those Catholic priests, still exists 150 years later, making Mission the oldest wine producer in New Zealand under the same ownership. Most of the wine in the missionaries' early days was for the altar - a commercial venture was not entered into until 1985. The current winery is at Greenmeadows, near Napier.

In 1984, Michael Cooper (in The Wines and Vineyards of New Zealand) records just eight producers in Hawkes Bay, a region that was well regarded for its fruit and vegetable produce.

Some of the older Hawkes Bay vineyards still in existence today are Te Mata (est.1892), Vidal (1905), Lombardi (1948), Brookfields (1937), Eskdale (1973), Ngatarawa (1981),

McWilliams Wines (est. 1944) was taken over by Montana, Glenvale Cellars (1933) is now Esk Valley.

In the mid-eighties, the region was seen as being one of great vinous potential and the influx of new producers and the buy-up of vineyard land from Auckland producers began.

Hawkes Bay has developed into the second largest wine producing region in New Zealand after Marlborough and in 2001 the vineyard area covers 2,800 hectares. There are 50 producers in the region at the time of writing and many more from other regions who source grapes from their own vineyards in Hawkes Bay or from contract growers.

Chardonnay is the most planted grape variety with 786 hectares, followed by Merlot (548 ha) and Cabernet Sauvignon (453 ha), Sauvignon Blanc (260 ha) and Pinot Noir (147 ha). Predicted vineyards trends see merlot being the major mover in relation to the others.

As Hawkes Bay expands, vineyards are being developed further and further inland on the rolling valleys and terrace adjacent to the riverways. Inland Hawkes Bay has a climate quite different to that on the coast nearer to sea level.

Hawkes Bay can also be susceptible to late spring frosts, as evidenced in November 2000, when a frost destroyed up to 90% of some vineyards and accounted for an overall decrease in production of about 50% on the previous year.

This list of wineries includes only the wineries based in the Hawkes Bay region itself.

Wineries may be closed on Public Holidays - particularly Good Friday, ANZAC Day to 1pm, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Please check the winery websites for up to date information.

Napier North (Esk / Bay View area)

Napier West (Taradale / Puketapu / Dartmoor)

Napier South (Pakowhai / Meeanee)

Brookfields Vineyards (1977) Ltd
www.brookfieldsvineyards.co.nz
376 Brookfields Road, Meeanee, Napier
Tel: 06 834 4615
Email: brookfields.vineyards@xtra.co.nz
Opening Hours:
Tasting: 10.30am - 4.30pm daily.
Restaurant: Exclusive lunch and dinner functions by appointment.

Park Estate Winery
www.parkestate.co.nz
2087 Pakowhai Road, RD3, Napier
Tel: 06 844 8137
Email: info@parkestate.co.nz
Opening Hours:
Cellar Door: 7 days 10am - 5pm.
Restaurant: Summer 10am - 5pm.
Winter: Thursday to Monday 10am - 5pm.

Flaxmere/Fernhill/Bridge Pa

Hastings /Havelock North and Te Mata

Te Awanga / Clifton

Heading South and Central Hawkes Bay

Related Links for Hawkes Bay Winery Guides
www.hawkesbaywinemakers.co.nz - official website of the Hawkes Bay Winemakers Association (includes a link to a map of the wine region).
www.hawkesbaynz.com - the region's tourism website.
www.hawkesbaywines.com
www.gimblettgravels.com

Wine Tours
www.grapeescapenz.co.nz - Greg Beachen know the wines and knows the winemakers. He specalises in tours of the Hawkes Bay region.

The information on this page was researched by Sue Courtney and normal copyright applies, including the html code.