DAY 1 - Gimblett Gravels, Unison, Trinity Hill, Awa Farm and Sileni Estates

Start the day with a stop at Hawthorne Coffee Roasters, the first coffee roastery in Hawkes Bay. Watch the roasting process and find out all you wanted to know about coffee. The first winery of the day is Matariki, a premium producer with an extensive array of award winning wines, try the power packed reds from Pinot Noir to Syrah. We travel out to the Western Plains and to the established red winemaking powerbase of the Gimblett Gravels. At Unison Vineyards, a boutique producer, sample their blended Bordeaux and syrah based reds.

Further down State Highway 50 we meet the team at Trinity Hill Winery, and take a look around the winery. Lunch at Te Awa Farm Winery, followed by a drive out to Mangatahi and Kemblefields Winery. From here we take a short trip down from the terraces to the river bed for a Jetboat ride on the Tutaekuri River.

On the way back to your accommodation we will stop at Sileni Estates and browse through their purpose built epicurean centre, for the `true foodies’, there is the option to take part in a cooking school run in the centre.

DAY 2 - Lombardi, Craggy Range, Cape Kidnappers and Kim Crawford

Nestled in the Havelock hills lies Lombardi Winery, where you will be shown through their underground, cave where the barrels are housed. Next to Craggy Range Winery, which is the largest, most recent, purpose built winery in Hawkes Bay. Try their single vineyard wines from throughout New Zealand.

We then cross over the Tukituki river, and enter the Cape Kidnappers region. Here situated on the coast the arts, and lifestyle blend into the stunning laid back environment. Visit Mt Pots - zany individually sculptured pots, planters and platers, created by artisan Maggie Taylor. Further down the road is the tasting rooms of Kim Crawford Winery, take in the stunning view whilst you sip on `Rory’, a Methode Traditionalle Champagne. From here you can walk down through the vineyard to Clearview Estate Winery where you can have lunch with the winemaker, Tim Turvey. The menu makes extensive use of the bountiful produce that Hawkes Bay is renowned for.

After lunch we join the Overland Gannet Safaris, which takes a 2 ½ hour ride out to Cape Kidnappers in airconditioned 4 x 4 vehicles. This is the largest mainland Gannet Colony in the world, and affords spectacular views back over Hawke’s Bay. On the way back to your accommodation we will stop in at Goodin Grove and taste their organically produce premium olive oil.

DAY 3 - Esk Valley, Linden Estate, Crab Farm and Church Road

Today we begin at Whitebay Lavendar Farm in the Esk Valley for coffee and an overview of the Lavendar industry. We begin our winetasting not far from there at Linden Estate, who as well as producing excellent Chardonnay and Merlot, have a fine arts gallery attached to the winery, with works bought in from around New Zealand. We go next to Esk Valley Estate, which is one of the wineries responsible for building the fine reputation that the region has for high quality Bordeaux styled reds. On to Crab Farm Winery, for lunch. This winery established itself on land reclaimed after the 1931 Earthquake which destroyed over 250 lives and most of the buildings in Napier. Napier was rebuilt using the building style of the era `Art Deco”, and is known as the Art Deco capital of the world. Back in Napier we take a look around this 1930’s city. Our final winery of the day is Church Road Winery, which is part of the Montana stable. There is a fascinating museum here where you can find out about the origins of winemaking in Hawke’s Bay, as well as tasting some of their premium wines.