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Hawke's Bay

New Zealand

Hawke's Bay

MarlboroughMarlboroughNelsonNelsonMartinboroughMartinboroughGisborneGisborneNorth CanterburyNorth CanterburyCentral OtagoCentral OtagoHawke's BayHawke's Bay

New Zealand wine regions

About Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay is where New Zealand wine began and where its most serious reds live. French Marist missionaries planted vines at Mission Estate in 1851, making this the country's oldest region, and Te Mata's Coleraine has been the benchmark New Zealand claret for four decades. The modern story is the Gimblett Gravels, an old riverbed so stony it was nearly quarried away before growers realised its heat-trapping soils could ripen Syrah into something peppery, perfumed, and closer to the Rhone than anywhere else in the New World. Add art deco Napier, long Chardonnay traditions, and a generous run of sunshine, and it is the North Island's essential wine stop.

Vintages

36 · 1990–2025

Rating:
95+
90-94
85-89
80-84
<80
PeakReadyHold
Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990
Red

Outstanding Hawke's Bay Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2025

Hold
94Excellent

Dark, fragrant Syrah and composed Bordeaux-style blends with ripe tannins and lifted aromatics; locals already mention it alongside 2013.

2028Peak 2031–20402045

2024

Almost ready
93Excellent

Outstanding quality despite yields down 30-50%. Cool spring led to smaller crop with exceptional fruit concentration.

2027Peak 2031–20402044

2023

Ready
90Excellent

Cyclone Gabrielle struck in February, devastating vineyards across the region with flooding and silt deposits. Esk Valley and Puketapu were hardest hit.

2026Peak 2027–20312033

2021

Ready
95Exceptional

A brilliant vintage producing structured reds with slightly more tension than the opulent 2020s. The best Syrah and Bordeaux blends show superb depth and complexity with fine tannins.

2026Peak 2029–20422044

2020

Ready
94Excellent

A spectacular vintage, hailed as near-perfect for Gimblett Gravels reds. Warm, dry conditions combined with progressive vineyard management produced wines of real depth, ripe tannins, and opulent fruit.

2025Peak 2028–20402042

2019

Ready
95Exceptional

A warm vintage producing wines of real balance and elegance. Reduced yields of 15-20% due to unsettled flowering concentrated the fruit.

2024Peak 2027–20362042

2018

At peak
93Excellent

A taut, focused, and superbly structured vintage. Both Syrah and Bordeaux blends show precision and definition.

2022Peak 2026–20362040

2016

At peak
91Excellent

A very strong vintage that came close to matching the outstanding 2013-2014 pair. Well-balanced reds with good depth and structure.

2020Peak 2024–20342038

2015

At peak
91Excellent

Another very good vintage, especially in Hawke's Bay. While not quite as universally outstanding across all styles as 2013-2014, the best reds show excellent concentration, ripe tannins, and genuine depth.

2019Peak 2023–20322036

2014

At peak
94Excellent

Thought by many to surpass even the legendary 2013. The warmest season since 1998 produced powerfully concentrated reds.

2018Peak 2022–20362040

2013

At peak
96Exceptional

Hailed as a "vintage of a lifetime" in Hawke's Bay and the redemption year after two tough seasons. Long, warm summer with no adverse weather produced reds of exceptional quality.

2018Peak 2021–20352040

2010

At peak
93Excellent

A cooler vintage that produced very structured wines needing time. Bordeaux varieties in particular show firm tannins and higher acidity.

2014Peak 2018–20282032

2009

At peak
90Excellent

An excellent vintage with warm, dry conditions producing concentrated, ripe reds. Syrah and Cabernet-based wines both performed very well.

2013Peak 2017–20282032

2007

Drink up
91Excellent

A good vintage producing wines of solid quality. Gimblett Gravels reds show dark, meaty character with serious concentration.

2011Peak 2015–20232026

1998

Past window
92Excellent

One of the hottest and driest seasons on record produced outstanding reds. A landmark vintage for Hawke's Bay, showing richer fruit and softer tannins than previous years.

2002Peak 2006–20162020

1991

Past window
92Excellent

Celebrated as one of New Zealand's best vintages at the time. Te Mata Coleraine showed richness and concentration, with cedar, cassis, and forest berry aromas.

1995Peak 2000–20102015

GI & Districts

Classification System

New Zealand's GI (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act passed in 2006 and came into force in 2017. A registered GI on the label means at least 85 percent of the grapes grew in the named area. Famous district names like Gimblett Gravels are not GIs at all but privately held trademarks with their own, stricter rules.

Registered GI

Marlborough to Central Otago, 85 percent of the fruit from the named area

Nested GI

A registered area inside a larger one, like Bannockburn within Central Otago

Trademark district

Privately enforced names like Gimblett Gravels, which demands 95 percent from its gravel soils

What Hawke's Bay produces

Red

Peppery, violet-scented Syrah and polished Bordeaux-style blends from the Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa.

White

Full, fig-and-stone-fruit Chardonnay with a long local pedigree, plus rich Viognier and Pinot Gris.

Grapes of Hawke's Bay

Chardonnay

Body
Sweetness
Acidity
green applelemonpearnectarine

Crisp, apple-driven Chardonnay from warm Hawke's Bay. Often unoaked.

Syrah

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
blackberryblack cherryblack pepperolive

The modern signature: black pepper, violet, and dark plum in a fragrant style nearer the Rhone than Australia, led by Te Mata and Trinity Hill.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
blackcurrantgreen bell peppermintcedar

New Zealand's Bordeaux blends, anchored on the Gimblett Gravels. Ripe blackberry, plum, and sage with firm, dusty tannins, balancing concentration with cool-night freshness.

Merlot

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
plumblackberrystrawberrybay leaf

Fresh, mineral Merlot from cooler sites. Less extraction than New World.

Climate

Warm maritimeSunnyDry summersSea breezesSheltered by ranges

Warm, dry maritime climate, often compared to Bordeaux in heat summation. Mountain ranges to the west shelter the bay from rain, sunshine hours are among New Zealand's highest, and sea breezes cool the afternoons. Nights stay mild inland on the gravels, which is exactly what the late-ripening reds need. Autumn rain is the gamble in cooler years.

Terroir

Deep shingle gravelsRed-brown loamOld riverbedsLimestone hillsAlluvial plains

A patchwork of river country: the Ngaruroro river's old course left the Gimblett Gravels, 800 hectares of deep, stony, heat-soaking shingle, while the neighbouring Bridge Pa Triangle lays red-brown loam over the same gravels for plusher reds. Elsewhere there are limestone hills around Te Mata peak, coastal shingle, and fertile alluvial plains that feed the region's Chardonnay.

Typical Aromas

blackcurrantblack peppervioletdark plumcedarblack olive
Explore the aroma wheel

More in New Zealand

Central Otago

Central Otago

Gisborne

Gisborne

Marlborough

Marlborough

Martinborough

Martinborough

Nelson

Nelson

North Canterbury

North Canterbury

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Hawke's Bay wine special?▼
It's all about the Gimblett Gravels - this unique sub-region of free-draining river gravel produces New Zealand's finest Bordeaux-style reds and Syrah. As the warmest region on New Zealand's North Island, Hawke's Bay gets those crucial warm autumn conditions that allow full ripening. The combination of climate and terroir creates wines with real structure and elegance that can compete with the world's best.
What are the best Hawke's Bay vintages?▼
2020 and 2021 are absolute standouts - both rated 5/5 with 2020 being called near-perfect for Gimblett Gravels reds. 2019 delivered beautiful balance despite warm conditions, while 2018 produced taut, structured wines. 2024 is also looking excellent at 4/5, though yields were down significantly due to a cool spring.
What grapes are grown in Hawke's Bay?▼
The key players are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay, with Syrah being increasingly important especially in the Gimblett Gravels. The Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) really shine here thanks to the warm climate and gravelly soils. You'll also find excellent Chardonnay that benefits from the region's sunny conditions.
Is 2024 a good year for Hawke's Bay?▼
Yes, 2024 is rated 4/5 for outstanding quality, though it was a challenging vintage. A cool spring led to yields dropping 30-50%, but this concentration actually benefited wine quality. The smaller crop meant more intense, concentrated flavors in the final wines.
When should I drink Hawke's Bay 2024?▼
For the reds, I'd give them at least 3-5 years to develop - so around 2027-2029 would be ideal for drinking. The concentrated nature of the 2024 vintage means these wines have excellent aging potential and will reward patience. Chardonnays can be enjoyed younger, typically within 2-4 years of vintage.
What food pairs well with Hawke's Bay wines?▼
The Bordeaux-style reds are perfect with lamb - classic New Zealand pairing - or beef dishes, especially anything grilled or roasted. The Syrah works beautifully with game meats or hearty stews. For the Chardonnays, think seafood, roast chicken, or creamy pasta dishes that can handle the wine's structure and weight.
How does Hawke's Bay compare to other major wine regions?▼
Think of it as New Zealand's answer to Bordeaux's Right Bank - similar grape focus but with a distinctly Southern Hemisphere character. The Gimblett Gravels rivals regions like Stellenbosch or Margaret River for premium reds, but with more elegance than power. It's been producing wine since the 1850s, so it has serious pedigree among New World regions.

Map data: GI boundaries from the IPONZ Geographical Indications Register (Crown copyright, CC BY 4.0) · LINZ NZ Suburbs and Localities (CC BY 4.0) · District outlines © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)