Hawks Bay Wine Tour – must do!

Hawks Bay Wine Tour

We opted for Avantogo Tours for our Hawks Bay wine excursion and couldn’t have been happier with our choice! Craig, our tour guide, greeted us in his vintage Volkswagen Van and whisked us away to three distinct wineries, with a delightful ice cream shop detour along the way. Throughout the journey, we were treated to fascinating insights into the rich history of Hawks Bay and New Zealand, alongside intriguing details about the delectable wines cultivated in the region.

Mission Estates Winery

Our first stop was Mission Estate Winery, a treasure trove of historical significance and an ideal starting point for our adventure. Established in 1838, Mission Estate holds the distinction of being New Zealand’s oldest winery. While their wines weren’t our top favorites during the tour, they offered a refreshing and easily enjoyable experience. Learning the history of Mission Estate Winery definitely make a must stop on any Hawks Bay wine tour. They also have a highly reviewed restaurant on site which we didn’t get to try this time around.

Church Road

Next stop on the wine tour was to Church Road. Church Road also has a long history in Hawks Bay, established in 1897. They have been at the forefront of experimenting with different grape varieties, vineyard practices, and winemaking techniques, contributing to the diversity and dynamism of the New Zealand wine industry. Throughout its history, Church Road has played a vital role in shaping New Zealand’s wine industry, particularly in Hawke’s Bay, which is renowned for its Bordeaux-style red blends, Chardonnay, and Syrah. There wines were fruit forward, with a great finish. We particularly enjoyed the Syrah.

Tony Bish, The Urban Winery

Our last stop was at Tony Bish Urban Winery. A much different place compared to our first two stops. At the Urban Winery, Tony Bish has been a trailblazer in employing innovative winemaking techniques. One notable example is his mastery of concrete egg fermentation vessels, which he uses to ferment and age his Chardonnays. This unconventional approach imparts unique textures and flavors to the wines, setting them apart from more traditional methods. On top of delicious wines the winery itself is a fun atmosphere to hang our with friends. They also serve great food!

In addition to our wine tour we also visited a few wineries on our own. Here is a list of  few other recommended wineries to visit in Hawks Bay:

Askerne

Village Vineyard

Ash Ridge