A Landscape Carved by Time
To understand Hawke’s Bay wine, look down before you look up.
Long before the first vines were planted, powerful rivers twisted and turned across this area, leaving behind vast beds of rounded grey stones and shingle. Today those riverbeds are home to two of New Zealand’s most famous wine-growing sub-regions: the Gimblett Gravels and the Bridge Pa Triangle.
For years, this land was considered useless for traditional farming. Too dry, too stony, too hard to work. Then, in the 1980s, a handful of brave winemakers saw something different: free-draining soils that warm up like a natural heat battery.
Those stones soak up the sun all day and slowly release the warmth back into the vines at night. That extra heat means Hawke’s Bay can ripen varieties that struggle in cooler parts of the country – think Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and complex Chardonnay, alongside more aromatic styles.
On tour, we don’t just tell you this –
we actually take you to these stony vineyards, where you can feel the rocks in your hand and then taste their influence in your glass.
The Taste of the Land
This is why Hawke’s Bay is often called New Zealand’s red wine capital.
The vines here have to work. Their roots push deep between stones to find water and nutrients. That struggle concentrates flavour in the grapes, giving you wines that are:
- rich in dark berry and plum notes,
- layered with spice, cocoa and savoury herbs, and
- carried by a distinctive structure that reflects the gravelly soils.
On our Wine Capitals Tour, you might be swirling:
- a silky Syrah grown on the Gimblett Gravels,
- a Bordeaux-style blend from a warm, stony terrace, or
- an elegant Chardonnay shaped by coastal breezes.
We explain where each wine comes from, how it’s made, and what you’re actually tasting from the land itself – in simple, accessible language.
So instead of just thinking, “That’s nice,” you start saying,
“I can actually taste the stones, the sun and the sea in this.”
Why Choose Premium Tours for Your Wine Day?
Yes, you can hire a car and wander into a cellar door on your own.
But Hawke’s Bay isn’t just a list of wineries – it’s a story.
Our job is to connect the dots for you.
Small Groups, Big Experiences
On our small-group Wine Capitals Tour, you’re not just one of 30 people on a bus. Numbers are limited so you can talk to the winemakers, ask questions, and move at a human pace – not a timetable designed for crowds.
Private Tours: Your Perfect Wine Day
If you want something truly customised, our Private Tours let you design the day with us:
- Deep dive into bold reds from the gravels
- Mix wine tasting with Art Deco Napier, street art and coastal lookouts
- Add a scenic drive to Te Mata Peak for views over the vineyard patchwork
Tell us what you love and what you’re curious about, and we’ll build a route that fits your taste, your energy, and your time in port or in town.
Local Insight – Not Just Transport
You’re not just being driven from A to B.
You’re spending the day with a local guide who lives here, knows the stories behind the labels, and understands how Hawke’s Bay fits into the bigger New Zealand wine picture. Expect real conversation, not a memorised script.
Comfort and Safety
Air-conditioned, comfortable vehicles. No stressing about directions, parking, or “Who’s driving?”. You can simply sit back, enjoy the scenery, and relax into your tastings.
The Art of the “Long Lunch”
Wine in Hawke’s Bay rarely turns up alone.
It’s almost always part of a long, lazy lunch in the sun – fresh local produce, platters full of cheeses, olives and charcuterie, and that easy Kiwi feeling of “no rush.”
On our wine tours, we often include:
- a shared platter or cheese board at one of our partner wineries,
- time to sit in the garden or on the terrace, and
- space to simply enjoy the view and the company.
Picture yourself at a historic estate or a boutique cellar door, glass in hand, the vines just metres away, and the warm Hawke’s Bay light softening everything around you.
That’s the kind of moment people remember long after they’ve forgotten which vintage they were drinking.
Ready to Uncover the Secret in the Soil?
Whether you’re:
- a serious wine collector,
- a curious beginner who “just likes reds,” or
- a traveller who wants to experience Hawke’s Bay beyond the usual sightseeing,
there’s a wine journey here with your name on it.
Don’t just tick off another tasting.
Let us show you the stones, stories and people behind every bottle.
Join our Wine Capitals Tour or design a private wine experience with Premium Tours, and let’s create a day you’ll be talking about long after your holiday ends.