Wine region | |
Type | Geographical Indication |
---|---|
Year established | 1851; GI established 2018[1] |
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)[2] |
Grapes produced | Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier[2] |
No. of wineries | 91[3] |
Comments | GI established 2018; wineries first established as early as 1851. |
The Hawke's Bay wine region is New Zealand's oldest and second-largest wine-production region, on the east coast of the North Island. Production reached 41,000 tonnes in 2018 from 4,681 hectares (11,570 acres) of planted vines, representing 10.2% of total national production.[3] Some of the oldest wineries still operating in New Zealand, including Te Mata Estate, Church Road, and Mission Estate, were established in the Hawke's Bay area in the late 19th century. Despite this, it was only established as a geographical indication (GI) in 2018.[1] The GI protects any wine produced within the boundaries of the entire Hawke's Bay Region, but in practice the vineyards are chiefly concentrated in the plains and low hills surrounding the cities of Napier and Hastings.[4]