Destination of the Week

New Zealand

Hawkes Bay.   That's where to start.   Granted, you'll probably fly in to Auckland but, given the countryside and the importance of wine to the region, Hawkes Bay is where you should point your car. (New Zealand is well covered with roads and driving is an easy mode of travel, especially given how "compact" the country is.)  New Zealand is comprised of two main islands, separated by Cook Strait.  The total length from top to bottom is about 1000 miles.

Throughout your travel you'll see dichotomous comparisons - from still lakes to river rapids, glacial ice and warm beaches, forests, hills, mountains, flatlands and geysers.  

Back to Hawkes Bay:  It's the oldest wine region in New Zealand. Its seasons are warm overall and with the low humidity, it creates a great growing season for both Riesling and cabernet sauvignon. If you head this way, you'll discover award winning wines of a number of varietals - dry reds to desserts and even sparkling wine.  The chardonnay and cabernet blends make off with prizes on a regular basis.

Hawkes Bay's "grape history" goes back over one hundred fifty years when estates like Te Mata planted vines.  Mission Vineyards is actually the oldest.   It was started by missionaries.   Also nearby is a great wine museum at Church Road Winery.  Check the web - there are lots of wine festivals and similar events in this region worth scheduling around - especially since you're likely to find wines that are otherwise unavailable.

By the way, you can get around the whole area on bicycle if you like.  There are at least two organizations that offer biking tours of the wine region.

There are seven other major wine regions in New Zealand - Auckland, Gisborne, Martinborough, Nelson, Marlborough, North Canterbury and Central Otago.  

After Hawkes Bay, Marlborough is next on the list.   It's just across Cook Strait on the south island and the beauty of the wine country on the Wairau Plain is unsurpassed.   The same can be said for some of the great wines; Marlborough is the country's largest producer of Chardonnay.  You'll find they have peach, grapefruit and other citrus flavors, an appealing level of acidity that a gives a crispness that's perfect for spicy seafoods or grilled chook . . . New Zealand may be close to Australia and some of the slang might be the same but check it out.

In addition to tasting the great wines of New Zealand, just about every other activity you can imagine is available there including Canoeing, climbing and caving, fishing, golf, horseback riding, ballooning and gliding, hang gliding, diving, rafting and sailing and even skiing and shredding.   It's all here.

Of course there are plenty of places to stay - hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts. If you're planning to visit more of the wine regions, you may want to investigate tours which range from three days upward and can include vineyard and winery visits, tastings, food, housing and travel.

Got a destination in mind? Start planning your trip here.