The Best Wineries Around Hawke's Bay (Part Two)- Boutique
- Helen
- Jan 12, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: May 29, 2019
Hawke's Bay in New Zealand is internationally recognised for it's wine making. Visiting Napier and the surrounding area provides the opportunity to explore as many wineries as you choose!
The wineries here are diverse in what they offer the visitor.
In this series of three posts about the best wineries to visit around Hawke's Bay I have compiled lists of the top 5 to see based on their style.
These include the top 5 sophisticated & upmarket wineries (see part one), the top 5 quirky wineries (see part three) or, in this post, the top 5 boutique wineries in the region.
Defining a 'boutique winery' is not an easy task as no clear criteria of what makes a boutique winery 'boutique' exist!
For the purposes of this list here, the wineries I selected as 'boutique' are smaller wineries, with limited production numbers and which may offer an element of diversity in their processes or what they produce.
These were wineries that were not giants in the industry, yet were warm and welcoming, while being producers of quality and distinct wines.
The Best Boutique Wineries Around Hawke's Bay
1. Brookfields Winery
Brookfields winery in Hawke's Bay prides itself on being the region's 'oldest boutique' winery, founded as it was, in 1937.
The current owner purchased Brookfields in 1977 and using traditional and sustainable methods has ensured that the winery excels in producing premium wines.
The winery owns several vineyards around Hawke's Bay from which they produce around 12,000 to 14,000 cases of wine a year, specialising in both reds and whites.
On visiting Brookfields you will find a pretty approach to this friendly and quiet location. The interior of the building here is exposed brick and crisp in appearance. There is a lawn to the front for people to sit and taste the wines on offer. The wines available to taste generally include some limited releases among their more widely available range.
Definitely a worthwhile winery to take time to enjoy, if only for it's history as the oldest boutique in Hawke's Bay!
2. Esk Valley
Esk Valley winery is found in Bay View, just north of Napier. Nestled into the hillside, surrounded by vines and with views across the Pacific, the setting here is idyllic.
Despite being a small winery, Esk Valley is considered one of New Zealand's top red winemakers. They are particularly recognised for their flagship wine, 'The Terraces'. This wine is only made in years when the terraced vines on the banks above the winery produce their best vintage.
Esk Valley are also recognised for producing Verdelho - a full bodied red and are one of just three wine makers in New Zealand to make this.
The wines at Esk Valley are hand crafted and free from modern technology methods.
For a warm and friendly welcome and some good red wines in a beautiful setting be sure to visit Esk Valley.
3. Linden Estate
Located in the same area as Esk Valley is the small and unassuming, yet elegant Linden Estate.
Founded in 1971 by a Dutch family, in the 1990's Linden produced a large variety of wines which hit the wider market and were also selected for Air New Zealand flights.
In 2006, the present owner took over at Linden Estate and set out to re-establish the winery as a boutique producer of premium wines. Linden now claim that they keep their grape yields low to ensure the very best quality is produced.
Most sales from Linden today are either direct at the Cellar Door or through their website.
As a winery to visit, Linden is found up a long drive and the main building is set into the hillside. Sheep graze in the vines as you approach the winery.
Despite the smaller size, Linden Estate does offer a restaurant, open between Thursday and Sunday which is perfectly situated overlooking the vineyards. They will also cater to weddings and functions.
A very friendly and warm winery to visit - the lady I met here was charming and knowledgeable. A recommended stop!
4. Askerne Estate Winery
A small and unassuming winery that foregoes some of the grandeur or elegance of it's neighbours, yet I found a great place to visit, is Askerne Winery.
Set within the Bridge Pa triangle of wineries, Askerne truly feels intimate and family run. The winery here was established in the 1980s by the same family who run it today and I was greeted and welcomed by an adult daughter of the original couple.
A truly boutique winery, which is named after an old Yorkshire spa town and the birthplace of the wife in the family.
The setting here is rustic and charming and the Cellar Door has the largest selection of wines to taste of any of the wineries in the region. Askerne also offer gourmet picnics for visitors to enjoy in their vineyard setting.
Overall, Askerne Estate Winery felt full of character and warmth.
5. Oak Estate
The smallest of the boutique wineries on this list, Oak Estate is a single vineyard of just 3.5 ha, also located in the Bridge Pa triangle.
Despite it's small size, this winery is still very popular and produces some fine wines. Located on a cycle route around the region, Oak Estate is a popular stop for cyclists (if that is your preferred transport method!).
Offering a kitchen, as well as Cellar Door for tastings, this casual setting among the vines is fun to visit. Specialising in signature Chardonnay among its range, Oak Estate has some award winning produce worth sampling.
There you have the round up of the top 5 boutique wineries to visit near Napier in Hawke's Bay.
One benefit of visiting a boutique winery is that the smaller size often meant they were off the busy route for wine tours, and as such were quieter to visit and able to dedicate more time to the independent visitor.
I enjoyed visiting each of the wineries on this list for their intimate, friendly feel and warm welcome.
Enjoy exploring the boutique wineries the region offers and let me know if you find others that should be on the list here.
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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