History

Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest wine region with beginnings in 1851 pioneering innovation and leadership.

By the early 1920’s, Mission Estate, Te Mata Estate, Vidal Estate, McDonalds Winery and Glenvale Winery (now Esk Valley Winery) were all established in the region.  The soils and climate that so excited the early winemaking efforts of those pioneers continues to provide the inspiration for the current generation of Hawke’s Bay winemakers.

It is now New Zealand’s second largest wine region and the largest premium red wine producing region in the country.

The earliest vineyards in Hawke’s Bay were established on the coast and in areas close to the towns of Napier, Havelock North and Hastings.  Later development extended to the Heretaunga Plains and more recently to the edges of the alluvial plains and extend up the regions river valleys.  Smaller plantings are exploring hillside sites around the fringes of the Heretaunga Plains as well as higher altitude sites of inland Central Hawke’s Bay.