Autumn in Hawke’s Bay is delicious – vintage is well underway for the region’s 70 plus wineries, figs, apples and pears are ready to be picked and everywhere from roadside stalls to award-winning restaurants are service plate after plate of the freshest produce. It really is the perfect time for a Hawke’s Bay trip! And while the old favourites continue to remind us why they’re our favourites – Craggy Range anyone? – Capsule has discovered a few new ways to Taste the Bay!
The One with a History Lesson
Iconic Hawke’s Bay winery, Church Road Winery has launched a new two-hour premium experience that is the ultimate personal tribute to Church Road’s founder, Tom McDonald, and a must-do for any wine-lover.
Taste Church Road’s premium TOM range with an intimate wine tasting within the winery’s underground museum. Be expertly guided through current and back vintage TOM wines as you explore the philosophy and character of their flagship range while enjoying selectively matched savoury bites.
- Book this if you want to get a bit serious about your wine
The One for Sweet Tooths
At Askerne Estate Winery dessert is an all-day affair with visitors able to sample a selection of winery’s award-winning dessert wines alongside delicious bite-sized desserts during your Hawke’s Bay trip.
Launched in November last year, the dessert tasting experience includes tastings of four dessert wines alongside four delicious desserts. All for just $80 for two people.
Askerne Estate Winery specialise in aromatic and dessert wines and are a family-owned, boutique winery near Havelock North.
- Book this if you’re a sweet tooth
The One Filled With Glamour
This one is for anyone who harbours a dream to step back to the Great Gatsby era.
After being collected from your accommodation in one of the Art Deco Trust’s 1930s vintage cars, you will enjoy by a scenic tour of Art Deco Napier.
Step back in time as you discover Napier’s remarkable history and revel in the glitz and glamour of the 1930s.
The tour finishes at the region’s most iconic Art Deco Building, the National Tobacco Building, which now houses to The Urban Winery.
The perfect place for a special wine tasting and to devour a platter, before heading next door to the National Distillery Company for a tour and tasting of their award-winning gins.
- Book this if you want to step back in time
The One By Bike
Discover the Hawke’s Bay Trails and some of the region’s most awarded wineries with the guidance of a Master of Wine.
Coastal Wine Cycles and Simon Nash, Master of Wine, now offer bespoke wine tasting cycle tours of Hawke’s Bay.
This personalised tour to selected wineries will be entirely by bike, with Simon tailoring the tour to meet your requirements, interest and wine knowledge.
Seated on a classic Californian cruiser bike, you can take it all in – long lunches, wine tastings and sunny autumn days.
- Do this if you’re an active relaxer
The One with a New Garden Bar
Cone & Flower opened just before Christmas and is Hawke’s Bay’s newest Garden Bar.
The vision of the two brothers behind Zeelandt Brewery and Petane Wines, Cone & Flower brings together Zeelandt’s traditionally modern approach to brewing and Petane’s expression of the local terroir.
Fronted by an international team, Cone & Flower’s tapas menu is fresh, delicious, refined and filled with the freshest local produce.
It’s the newest go to for people looking to while away the a sunny autumnal afternoon.
- Go here if your group has a mix of wine and beer drinkers. A great one for kids too, the bar has an epic playground!
The One The Locals Go To
From what started out as a barebones, backyard operation, Brave Brewing can now be found at their brand new premises in central Hastings, with an onsite taproom, eatery and cellar door.
It is Hastings’ friendly neighbourhood brewery where the beer is hoppy and pub eats delicious.
Brave’s quality, flavourful beer is award-winning and making one heck of a name for itself – just ask any Hawke’s Bay beer drinker “where can I find a ‘Tigermilk’?” and you’ll get an indication about how strong Brave’s following really is!
- Go here if you want craft beer that would please even the fussiest Wellingtonian
