Raising A Glass To The Region’s Worldclass Food And Wine Producers

With spring fast approaching, the countdown is on to Harvest Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s newest food and wine festival, being held on Saturday November 25.

Taking place at a picturesque location beside the Tukituki River, Harvest Hawke’s Bay is a unique opportunity to celebrate the best food, wine and entertainment the region has to offer.

Harvest Hawke’s Bay is the only festival celebrating the wider region’s bountiful food and wine offerings, and there’s plenty to celebrate at this year’s inaugural event.

It will be Hawke’s Bay’s first food and wine festival since the region received the prestigious honour of being named one of the 12 Great Wine Capitals of the World in May. The distinction places Hawke’s Bay alongside 11 other iconic international wine regions, including Bordeaux (France), Napa Valley (USA), Bilbao (Spain) and Adelaide (Australia).

Harvest Hawke’s Bay event manager Liz Pollock says now that six months have passed since Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay is keen to show it’s fully open for business and ready to welcome visitors.

“It’s great that, despite a tough year for many, our local food and wine heroes are embracing the future with such enthusiasm, and are excited to be part of Harvest Hawke’s Bay,” Liz says.

Several of the exhibitors at this year’s event were badly affected by February’s cyclone, but all are bravely rebuilding after the unprecedented weather event.

“The cyclone left us devastated by not defeated,” says Olivia Walding-Karaitiana, Business Manager at Linden Estate Winery in Esk Valley, where some of the most severe flooding occurred.

“From day one we were determined to rebuild the Linden Estate business. Harvest Hawke’s Bay is an opportunity to share our wines, our story, and our future plans with the public, who have been so supportive and encouraging since the cyclone.”

Three other Esk Valley businesses, Valley d’Vine, Petane Wines and the Cone & Flower garden bar, will also be part of the festival.

With tickets strictly limited to 2,200, Harvest Hawke’s Bay promises to be an intimate event for foodies and wine lovers looking for a special way to celebrate the last weekend before summer officially arrives in the Bay.

The line-up of wineries for Harvest Hawke’s Bay 2023 includes Black Barn Wines, Maison Noire, Paritua Wines, Crab Farm Winery, Tony Bish Wines, Petane Wines, Oak Estate, Trinity Hill, Sileni, Askerne, Smith & Sheth, Collaboration Wines, Te Mata Estate, Te Awanga, Linden Estate and Craggy Range.

These great wines will be supported by equally fabulous food from Deliciosa, Cone & Flower, Black Barn Bistro, Valley d’Vine, Op’s Kitchen, Black Betty BBQ, Hunger Monger, Cellar 495 and Long Island Deli.

Live music, from three outstanding Hawke’s Bay bands, will run throughout the afternoon, and regional shuttle services will connect Havelock North, Hastings and Napier to the event.

Alternatively, festival goers can take advantage of the free self-contained motorhome or car parking adjacent to the festival site. Or for those wanting to incorporate some exercise into the day the site is conveniently located just off one of the many local cycleways!

With tickets limited, organisers are encouraging food and wine lovers to secure their spot at the festival as soon as possible.

Hawke’s Bay is as easy to get to as ever, with direct flights now available from Gisborne and Tauranga (with Sunair) as well as multiple daily flights out of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch (Air New Zealand).

Tickets to Harvest Hawke’s Bay are available from Eventfinda (eventfinda.co.nz) or the HHB website (harvesthawkesbay.com).