Exploring the East Coast
An hour’s flight (or a six-hour drive) southeast from Auckland takes wine lovers straight into the heart of North Island’s wine industry – Hawke’s Bay, the country’s second-largest wine region and home to heavyweight winery Hawke’s Bay , a household name for Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays.
In nearby Ahuriri, a suburb of Napier, you’ll find The Urban Winery , an excellent place to sample some Chardonnay, the region’s leading white wine. Owner Tony Bish has made this a true shrine to Chardonnay, with a range of classic styles. The building also happens to be one of Napier’s most evocative Art Deco buildings, part of a style that redefined the city after a major earthquake in 1933.
If you’re keen for some exercise to burn off yesterday’s bottle, Hawke’s Bay has hundreds of kilometres of dedicated cycle trails, most of which are off-road but not overly demanding. Bikes and equipment are easy to hire, and you’ll find maps of wineries, cafés and restaurants along the way. A top choice in the bay area for both wine and food is Craggy Range , nestled between Te Mata Peak and the Tukituki River.
Also near Napier is Trinity Hill Wines , famous for its Syrah, Chardonnay and “The Trinity” reds, while on the coast, you’ll find the Elephant Hill estate, with its highly recommended “Hierynomous” blend of reds and dramatic clifftop views.