Hawke's Bay wine region facts for kids
| Wine region | |
Hawke's Bay vineyard, in autumn
|
|
| Type | Geographical Indication |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1851; GI established 2018 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sub-regions | Gimblett Gravels, Bridge Pa Triangle, Te Mata Special Character Zone |
| Size of planted vineyards | 4,681 hectares (11,570 acres) (2018) |
| Grapes produced | Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier |
| No. of wineries | 91 |
| Comments | GI established 2018; wineries first established as early as 1851. |
The Hawke's Bay wine region is a special area in New Zealand where lots of grapes are grown to make wine. It is the oldest and second-largest wine-making area in the country. You can find it on the east coast of the North Island.
In 2018, this region grew 41,000 tonnes of grapes. This came from about 4,681 hectares of planted vines. That's more than 10% of all the grapes grown in New Zealand!
Some of New Zealand's oldest wineries are in Hawke's Bay. These include Te Mata Estate, Church Road, and Mission Estate. They started making wine way back in the late 1800s.
Even though it has a long history, Hawke's Bay was only officially named a geographical indication (GI) in 2018. A GI is like a special label. It protects wines made in a specific area. This means only wines from within the Hawke's Bay Region can use the Hawke's Bay name. Most of the vineyards are found on the flat lands and small hills. These areas are near the cities of Napier and Hastings.
Contents
Hawke's Bay Climate for Grapes
The Hawke's Bay region has a great climate for growing grapes. It gets lots of sunshine and has warm temperatures. This helps the grapes ripen well. The average temperature during the year is around 14.6 degrees Celsius.
The region also gets a good amount of rain, about 785 mm per year. This rain helps the grapevines grow. The coastal areas can also get cool breezes at night. This helps keep the grapes fresh.
Wines Grown in Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is known for making excellent red wines. These often use grapes like Merlot and Syrah. Many people enjoy these wines.
The region also produces great white wines. Popular white grape types grown here include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Viognier.
Special Wine Growing Areas
Within the larger Hawke's Bay region, there are several smaller, special areas. These are called sub-regions. Two of the most famous are Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa Triangle. They are known for their high-quality red wines.
Gimblett Gravels Wine Area
The Gimblett Gravels is a unique area about 800 hectares in size. It's special because it's defined by a particular type of soil. This soil is called Omahu Gravels. It's one of the only wine areas in the world named after its soil. Usually, wine regions are named after towns or countries.
The name "Gimblett Gravels" is a registered trademark. Only members of the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association can use it. To become a member, a producer must show their vineyards are on this special gravel soil. If they are, they can use the label on their wines. At least 95% of the grapes must come from these vineyards.
Some well-known wineries in this area include Te Awa, Villa Maria, Trinity Hill, and Craggy Range.
Bridge Pa Triangle Wine Area
The Bridge Pa Triangle is another important wine area. It's also called the Ngatarawa Triangle. This area covers about 2,100 hectares. It's shaped by three roads: Ngatarawa Road, State Highway 50, and Maraekakaho Road.
This area is next to the Gimblett Gravels. It used to be the old riverbed of the Ngaruroro River. The river changed its path after an earthquake in the 1860s. The soils here are good for growing grapes. They include gravels that drain water well and shallow clay soils.
The first vineyards here were started in 1981 by Alwyn Corban and Garry Glazebrook. They created Ngatarawa Wines. Their success encouraged other people to plant vineyards in the area. The Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District organization was formed in 2015. Members can use the Bridge Pa Triangle logo on their wine labels. At least 85% of the grapes must come from this area.
Some famous wineries in this area are Ngatarawa, Alpha Domus, and Sileni Estates. Te Mata Estate also makes a special award-winning Syrah wine from its "Bullnose" vineyard here.
Te Mata Special Zone
The Te Mata Special Character Zone is an area of hills. It is next to the towns of Havelock North and Te Mata Peak. This area was protected by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council in 1996. This made it New Zealand's first legally protected wine growing area.
The main wineries in this zone are Te Mata Estate, Craggy Range, and Black Barn. Other wineries also have vineyards in this special area.
Te Awanga Coastal Vineyards
Several vineyards are located near the small coastal town of Te Awanga. This town is about 12 kilometers east of Hastings. The area has the warm, sunny Hawke's Bay climate. However, cool breezes from the coast at night help keep the grapes fresh.
Some notable wineries here include Beach House, Clearview Estate, and Elephant Hill.
Central Hawke's Bay Vineyards
Further south, about 50 kilometers away, are vineyards around the towns of Waipawa and Waipukurau. These growers registered their own special wine area in 2019. It covers the southern half of the larger Hawke's Bay region.
The main wineries in this southern area are Lime Rock, Junction Wines, and Pukeora Estate.
