Bespoke and Tailored Wine Tour for Larger Groups
Explore award-winning wineries & vineyards with our Bespoke and Tailored Winemaker’s Tour. Try some of the most divine wine and food that Hawke’s Bay has to offer.
All Tours Hosted By Don Bird. Read His Outstanding Reviews On Trip Advisor
UNFORGETTABLE WINE EXPERIENCE
Indulge in the delights of beautiful Hawke’s Bay Wine Country on your exclusive tour here in New Zealand. You’ll be chauffeured in style–ride in the comfort of a new, air-conditioned luxury vehicle. Explore Hawke’s Bay’s wineries whilst enjoying an in-depth viticulture and winemaking encounter that is perfect for either the novice or more devoted wine enthusiast.
The tour is hosted exclusively by Don Bird, who is a third-generation New Zealand Winemaker with 40 years experience in the Hawkes Bay wine industry. See Don’s outstanding tour reviews here.
About the tour
Duration: 3-8 hours
Group Size: Minimum 8 people / maximum 22 people
Details: Don specialises in creating bespoke and tailored itineraries for larger groups such as wine enthusiasts, corporate outings, and friends celebrating a special occasion wanting a private wine and food experience. Don will be happy to provide a suggested itinerary and price.
THE BESPOKE AND TAILORED TOUR IS A PRIVATE, PERSONALISED TOUR THAT IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR LARGE GROUPS WINE INTRIGUE.
While Hawke’s Bay is predominantly known for Bordeaux Reds, Syrah and Chardonnay, the region showcases an exceptional range of wine varieties to cater to everyone’s preferences. With your guide Don, you can delve deeper into the local gems the wider area can offer; whatever your interests are, we can do it!
Well established as a sole operator with a five star reputation; Don, your private guide and his wife Ros have two premium Mercedes and Toyota vehicles, that will ensure you travel in the utmost comfort and style.
Upon request Don can carefully assess your expectations and create a private tour itinerary to suit your needs; whether your focus is on wine, food and wine pairings, or sightseeing, we can tailor the day to your requests, budget and time restrictions. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to see what we can arrange for you!
DAVID & TRISH SCHISCHKA, AUCKLAN
Don identified what we were looking for and created a day tour to meet our specific needs. Don put together a unique harmony of wine education, access to restricted vineyard areas, wonderful lunch with a blind tasting, local history and sightseeing. A truly educational and memorable experience. Well worth it, highly recommend, do it!
JAN & MIKE STRANGER, BC, CANADA
Don’s knowledge of the process of winemaking is outstanding. His understanding of the Hawke’s Bay and Esk Valley regions is thorough and his hospitality is exemplary.
KATHARINE, AUCKLAND
We were fortunate enough to spend a whole day with Don. He imparted his knowledge and passion for Hawkes Bay wines to us throughout the day. His friendliness and humour made us feel welcome and we felt privileged to be in his company. We will fondly remember our tour and highly recommend Don as a host.
HILARY & JOHN, UK
Now that’s what I call a wine tour! As owners of a small UK vineyard and previous visitors to Hawke’s Bay, we were looking for something that gave us more than a group tour. From the moment Don picked us up in the morning, until the moment we said a somewhat reluctant farewell at the end of the day, we were shown so much more – he really ‘knows his stuff’!!!
JANET, UK
A friend and I had a private tour with Don — we visited two wineries (one where the tasting experience included five wines) and we enjoyed drives through the beautiful countryside enjoying the experience of seeing NewZealand’s varied landscape as well as a pleasurable tea break at Don’s home. Don is a wonderful tour guide and host who enjoys taking his guests wherever they want to go and from whom much can be learned both about winemaking and about New Zealand.
MARTHA, AUSTRALIA
Book Your Luxury Wine Tour and Get Ready for a Memorable Experience
A luxury wine tour is a truly indulgent way to spend a beautiful day. This type of excursion provides the opportunity to kick back, relax, and experience something that you don’t get to do regularly. Whether you’ve never been on a wine tour before or have been on many, luxury wine tours are always fun, engaging, educational, and – most of all – delicious. The Winemaker’s Tour is a private Hawkes Bay tour company offering a variety of luxury wine tours for couples and small groups. We can design an itinerary specifically for you and include any elements that interest you, from wineries to a lime farm, olive oil producer, fig farm, and more. We are deeply knowledgeable about this area and the wines made here. In fact, as a winemaking family ourselves, we enjoy excellent relationships with the region’s winemakers and can provide exclusive experiences for you and your group.
Benefits of a Private Winery Tour
There are some distinct advantages to booking private wine tours with your own small group of friends. Here are some great reasons to choose a private tour for your next wine tasting outing.
- You choose your own group. Of course, meeting new people can be part of the fun of any holiday – but then again, you always run the risk of encountering someone you don’t get along with. That can put a real damper on your trip. When you book a private tour, you have the opportunity to gather the people you want to spend time with and enjoy the experience together.
- You’ll gain access to exclusive spots. You can certainly put together your own wine excursion without the help of a tour company – but if you do, you’ll be missing out on some of the most amazing experiences out there. We can arrange exclusive events not available to the general public, such as private tastings with winemakers, walking tours that dive deeper than public tours.
- You can create the trip you want. We love creating fun and engaging itineraries for our guests, but we’re also happy to design a bespoke adventure for your group. With the help of our team, you can not only choose who is in your group, but also where you go, what activities you take part in, what things you see, how you travel, and more. This versatility makes a private wine tasting party the perfect way to enjoy the getaway of your dreams.
Tips for Getting More Value Out of a Luxury Wine Tasting
A private wine tasting is a truly exciting event, with dozens of delicious wines all there for the sampling and knowledgeable winemakers on hand to answer all your questions and teach you more about the wines, the region, and even your own palate. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of any tasting.
- Dress for the event. Consider wearing dark colours (in case of spills) and comfortable shoes. It’s a good idea to skip any perfumes or scented lotions, which can interfere with the aromatics of the wines you’re trying.
- Take notes. After tasting so many wines, you won’t likely remember all their names, even that one fantastic red you swore you would never forget. Be sure to jot down which wines you love and which ones you didn’t care for, along with any flavour notes you find interesting. This way, you’ll be able to find your favourites later when you’re ready to choose a few bottles to take home with you.
- Talk with the winemakers. Part of what makes wine so much fun is the story behind the bottle. Chat with the winery owners, winemakers, and other staff about grapes, styles, regions, vintages – anything that piques your interest. These folks are passionate about wine and will be happy to answer your questions.
- Have fun. Some people are very serious about wine, and that’s fine – but it’s also okay to smile, laugh, chat, and have a good time. You’re sampling wine, not attending a tax seminar. There won’t be a quiz. Pick a partner or fun group of friends who will enjoy the day with you and help you create some happy memories.
About The Winemaker’s Tour
At The Winemaker’s Tour, we provide a unique experience that’s tailored to each group’s desires and interests. We have decades of experience in the Hawkes Bay wine industry and come from a long line of winemakers. We offer a range of tour options and cater to mostly small groups, even as small as two people – but we can serve larger groups as well. We invite you to enjoy one of our private winery tours with your significant other or a group of friends or family members – it’s up to you, and we’ll do everything we can to make your experience a wonderful and memorable one.
Contact us today for more information or to book your tour.
Bookings
Book A Tour
Please select your preferred tour type & date, we will
get in touch with you as soon as possible.
Bookings
Book A Tour
Please select your preferred tour type & date, we will
get in touch with you as soon as possible.
CONTACT DON & ROSLYN
If you have any questions about any of their tours, Don and Roslyn would warmly welcome them. You can book online above using the form or contact them directly using the numbers and email address below. They look forward to meeting you and sharing their passion for Hawke’s Bay.
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Mobile: +64 276072396
Mobile: +64 272815738
Email : bookings@thewinemakerstour.nz