Napier Wine Tour | The Winemaker’s Tour
Explore award-winning wineries & vineyards with our Napier 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.
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
About the tour
PRICE $495/PP
Duration: Approx. 7 hours
Group Size: Minimum 2 people / maximum 6 people (larger groups by arrangement – enquire as to price)
Details: Your host Don Bird, will collect you from your accommodation at approximately 10.30am. You will travel in air-conditioned comfort in an air-conditioned, luxury SUV, while your host provides continuous commentary on the wonderful sights and scenery. The tour duration is approximately 7 hours, so you will be returned to your accommodation between 5.30 and 6.00pm.
THE WINEMAKER’S TOUR IS A PRIVATE, PERSONALISED TOUR THAT IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL WINE INTRIGUE.
With Don you’ll get to experience the inner workings of award-winning wineries, take a walk through the vineyards, sample grapes off the vine (dependent upon season), or taste straight from the barrel. For lunch, you will be treated to a two-course degustation of fine wines and gourmet food at a multi-award winning winery restaurant, complete with a wine appreciation tutorial with interactive sensory tasting to open the exciting world of wine appearance, aroma and flavour. Travel through stunning river valleys with Don, wander hillside vineyards and discover the magnificent patchwork quilt of the world-famous Gimblett Gravels as we try some of the most divine wine and food that Hawke’s Bay has to offer. The Winemaker’s Tour includes pick up and drop off at your accommodation in Napier, Hastings, Havelock North and Bay View.
YOUR ITINERARY
• Wine tasting at 5 to 6 Hawke’s Bay iconic wineries, which may include: Craggy Range, Te Mata Estate, Mission Estate, Trinity Hill, Te Awa Farm, Church Road, Clearview Estate and Elephant Hill. Some of the tastings are private away from the crowds.
• View stunning scenery while Don provides commentary on Hawkes Bay’s wine history and the industry today
• Enjoy a wine appreciation tutorial with interactive sensory tasting to open the exciting world of wine appearance, aroma and flavour. Learn to taste like the professionals
• Includes a two-course gourmet lunch at Mission Estate or Craggy Range Terroir restaurant, both multi-cuisine award winners.
• Visit Te Mata Peak to experience amazing 360º views over Hawke’s Bay
• Wine tasting amongst the vines of a famous Gimblett Gravels vineyard.
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.
Related Services We Provide to Luxury Wine Tours in Hawkes Bay
The Winemaker’s Tour offers a range of travel options, such as:
- The Napier Wine Tour. On this approximately seven-hour tour, your small group of two to ten will take in the beauty of the Hawkes Bay area as you are chauffeured in style in a new, air-conditioned, luxury vehicle. Explore some of the local wineries and enjoy an in-depth winemaking encounter suitable for everyone from the novice to the experienced wine connoisseur.
- The Gannet Tour. Combine a luxury wine tour and a visit to the Gannets in one action-packed day with our Cape Kidnappers Gannet Safari and Private Wine Tour. We’ll drive you right to within a few feet of the beautiful birds in the morning and then spend the afternoon visiting the area’s iconic wineries and enjoying the delicious local wines and foods before we take you back to your accommodation.
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