Hawke's Bay named one of the great wine capitals of the world

12:50 pm on 24 May 2023

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Photo: Unsplash / Kym Ellis

Hawke's Bay has been named a Great Wine Capital of the world, alongside 11 other global heavyweights such as Bordeaux, Verona and Napa Valley.

It was a welcome boost for the industry as it recovers from Cyclone Gabrielle.

The accolade takes into account the quality of the wine, and the experience on offer to visitors.

For Hawke's Bay, this included its Art Deco heritage, long vineyard lunches and cellar door bike tours - and the region sees $620 million from tourism each year.

Hawke's Bay Wine chairperson Sally Duncan said it had some of the best wine-growing soils and climates in the country, producing more than 40,000 tonnes of grapes a year, with more than 200 vineyards, 125 wine producers and more than 30 cellar doors.

Hawke's Bay Tourism chief executive Hamish Saxton said it was a remarkable milestone for the region, and the Great Wine Capitals network was already providing support and information to wineries impacted by the cyclone.

Hawke's Bay vines. Photo: SUPPLIED

It would give a significant boost to the region's post-cyclone recovery, he said, particularly with the wine industry already generating an estimated $300m to the Hawke's Bay economy and $156m to GDP.

"Most of our wineries and cellar doors are now back open and keen to welcome manuhiri," Saxton said.

Jo Collins, president of the Adelaide, South Australia Great Wine Capitals Steering Committee, said the existing 11 members unanimously voted for Hawke's Bay's inclusion in the list.

"The quality of the wines from this region, their international recognition and unwavering commitment to excellence in grape and wine production,

sustainable tourism and education was evident," she said.

She said the network members did not see each other as competition, rather worked together to support, learn, and raise the bar in global wine and tourism.

Hawke's Bay first tried to become a member in 2009, but at the time, needed to have a population of more than 250,000 people to be considered.

The network has since relaxed this rule, given the exceptional situation of Hawke's Bay having two smaller cities very close together in Napier and Hastings.