Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
HAWKE'S BAY, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, is one of the country's great and most beautiful wine-growing regions. It is also one of the most beautiful, with the Kaweka Ranges forming an impressive backdrop to its sheltered bay, and being one of the island's sunniest regions (an average 2,245 hours of sun per year), with generally low humidity and continued heat until April, the area is ideal for late-maturing varietals such as cabernet sauvignon and riesling.
Stop by the tourist information centre on Marine Parade, Napier - the province's largest town and one of the world's best-preserved art deco cities - to pick up the wine enthusiast's bible - A Guide To Hawke's Bay Wineries, which includes a map.
A car is essential to tour the area, but several companies run tours for visitors without their own transport. Alan Currie runs Toast The Bay (Tel/fax: [64] 06 844 2375, Mobile: [64] 025 801 879) with a personal door-to-door service. His tours - in the morning and afternoon - cost NZ$30-$35 (HK$102-$119). John Hancock, of the Trinity Hill Winery, says: 'For a down-to-Earth, no bull experience, I recommend Toast The Bay tours.' Another company, Noel Hunt's Hawke's Bay In A Glass (Tel: [64] 06 843 2478) tailors tours to individuals' requirements.
Perhaps the region's most famous vineyard is The Mission (198 Church Road, Taradale, Hawke's Bay. Tel: [64] 06 844 2259, Fax: [64] 06 844 6023) which was established in 1851 by a group of French Catholic missionaries with a passion for fine wine and tradition.
In the beginning, the early vintages were produced for sacramental purposes, but such was the wine's success the brothers soon began producing on a commercial basis. Today, The Mission is arguably Hawke's Bay's most picturesque winery, its imposing driveway flanked by plane trees sweeping up to the historical mission building perched on the hillside.
Free tours are conducted Monday to Saturday at 10.30am and 2pm, or by special arrangement. The winery is open from 8.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am-4pm on Sunday. Its range of wines is divided into three categories. The estate range is perfect for everyday drinking (NZ$12.95), the reserve range, notable for its structure, flavour, delicacy and intensity, starts at NZ$17.95 for the 1999 pinot gris, rising to NZ$27.95 for the 1998 syrah. The Jewelstone range, matured in new French oak with grapes sourced from the best vineyard sites, comprises the 1998 chardonnay (NZ$23.95) and the 1997 syrah (NZ$29.95).
Be sure to leave enough time for lunch or dinner in the Mission House restaurant (Tel: [64] 06 844 6048) on the terrace. Alternatively, take a picnic and eat on the lawn.