Hawke’s Bay, located on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island and to the south of Gisborne, is New Zealand’s leading wine and food tourism destination. It’s also a region steeped in history. The cities of Napier and Hastings were all but destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, and rebuilt in the prevailing art deco and spanish mission styles.
Hawke’s Bay combines lots of sun and a temperate climate with an attractive rural landscape, and an abundance of good food and dining opportunities. Many of New Zealand’s best wineries are located in Hawke’s Bay, and are within easy reach of visitors. If visiting the region, allow at least one day to explore its wineries.
Hawke's Bay is New Zealand's second largest wine growing region and one of its oldest. Wines have been produced in the Bay since the 19th century. High sunshine hours and variety of soil types, make the region ideally suited to the growing of fruit and wine. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape variety, but a long ripening season attracts a high percentage of later-ripening red grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.