"Greg Beachen knows his wines, knows his winemakers and, through his sense of humour, knowledge of the region and attention to detail, knows how to create delightful experiences for aficionados and casual imbibers alike. It is without reservation that I commend you to his Grape Escape wine tours" Bruce Lieberman, New Mexico, USA.
Wine Tour
Half Day Tour - $65 per person
Departs 1300 Returns 1700
Half Day Wine Tour with lunch stop - $75 pp
Departs 12pm Returns 5.30pm (lunch at your cost)
Pick up and drop off at your accommodation
Tour Description
A fun and educational tour designed for casual imbibers and wine aficionados. Meet like- minded people and share an appreciation of Hawke’s Bay’s fantastic wines. Taste great wines made with passion and learn of the areas unique growing conditions. Enjoy lunch in amazing vineyard settings. Cheese boards are provided on all tours. Take home great tasting wines and memories. Lunch tour will stop at Black Barn or Elephant Hill for lunch.
Service Description
A fun and educational tour designed for casual imbibers and wine aficionados. Meet like- minded people and share an appreciation of Hawke’s Bay’s fantastic wines. Taste great wines made with passion and learn of the areas unique growing conditions. Cheese boards are provided on all tours. Take home great tasting wines and memories. Your experience begins from your accommodation where you will be picked up in a comfortable 9-seater mini van. Once everyone is aboard we begin the tour with a brief chat to get to know everyone and find out the style of wines that each of us like. We then take a 20- minute drive out to the first winery through tree-lined avenues surrounded by the many fruit producing orchards of the Heretaunga Plains. Along the way we learn about the regions many different grape varieties and a little bit of local history. Once we reach our first winery we will take time to walk among the vines and learn about the unique growing conditions of the Gimblet Gravels district. You will taste classic red European varieties such as Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Pinot Noir. The area is also famous for the white varieties, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Semillon, Pinot Gris and Viognier. Four to five wineries will be visited during the tour with time taken to enjoy various cheeses from around New Zealand. At the end of your tour you will be dropped off at your accommodation.
Luxury Wine Tour
Includes 2 course lunch, 6 wineries, guide and air conditioned sedan
Tour price based on 2 persons
Please add $160 supplement per extra person
Maximum Group size 8
Larger groups can be catered for
Depart Napier, Havelock or Hastings
10.30am – Return 5pm
Tour includes 2 Course Lunch for two and six wineries
A tour designed for those serious about wine that are looking for a more intimate experience of the regions wineries. Meet wine makers and people passionate about wine. Learn about Terroir and how this creates different wine styles. Your guide is personable and very knowledgeable about Hawke's Bay wine and will design a tour with you preferences in mind. Wine education, regional history and knowledge of the finest restaurant food in the region are all a part of our service. Taste classic red varieties such as Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese and Pinot Noir. Hawke's Bay vintners are also renowned for such white varieties as Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Viognier. Semillon and Riesling are generally found in Noble desert wines. Depending on availability you may also taste a sherry, ports and desert reds.
Your tour begins from your accommodation where you will pick up in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. We travel out of Napier towards the coast and visit Clearview and Elephant Hill. We then continue along the Tuki Tuki river valley route undoubtedly one of the most scenic pastoral and vineyard drives in New Zealand. People often compare this area to Tuscany.
Next stop Craggy Range where you will enjoy there wonderful wines and a two course meal looking out on to Te Mata Peak.
After lunch we will drive to top of Te Mata Peak elevation 399 meters. Te Mata is short for Te Mata y Rongakako the face of the giant. You will hear more about this giant in stories told as we travel. From the top of Te Mata you will enjoy amazing 360 degree views of the Heretaunga Plains. Look out on orchards and vineyards on the plains to forestry, sheep and cattle farming on the surrounding hills. The formations of these hills and lower plains were created by glacial activity during the last ice age, and create an amazing sense of awe. The peak is on the AA list of 101 things Kiwis must see in New Zealand.
We leave the peak and travel out to the wineries of the Red Metal region, visiting Ngatarawa and then Matariki and Unison in the Gimblett Gravels.
We then drive back to Napier
Heli Wine and Dine Tour Hawke’s Bay
(Half Day) Costs based on group size (Departs 10am)
Tour Codes and costs
HWD2 $715 Per Person (2 pax)
HWD4 $525 Per Person (4 pax)
HWD6 $465 Per Person (6 pax)
Cruise Excursions
Scenic Wine Tour and Lunch
Scenic Wine Tour and Lunch 6 hours - $185 pp
Tour Description
An amazing 6 hour journey through the orchards, vineyards, hills, river valleys and coastal areas of Hawke's Bay. Sample some of the best food and wine New Zealand has to offer and enjoy lunch at one of New Zealand's leading restaurant wineries Hear stories of Maori legends and past history as you travel your way through outstanding scenery. A tour designed for those who love wine and would like to mix it with a relaxing scenic day out. Ideal for visitors who only have a short time in Hawke’s Bay and would like to see all the good stuff
Service Description
Departing Napier we travel along the coast with views of Cape Kidnappers the site of Captain Cook’s first meeting with local Maori. Hear stories of Cooks first encounter as well as the tale of Maui a Maori God.
We travel through the village of Clive and head inland towards Havelock North through the many orchards of the Hawke's Bay region. Hawke's Bay is the fruit capital of New Zealand producing the majority of New Zealand’s stone and pip fruit. We will have the opportunity throughout the day to stop at roadside stalls and sample local produce.
First stop Black Barn where we will enjoy a relaxed wine tasting with wonderful sweeping views of Hawke's Bay.
We then drive to top of Te Mata Peak elevation 399 meters. Te Mata is short for Te Mata y Rongakako the face of the giant. You will hear more about this giant in stories told as we travel. From the top of Te Mata you will enjoy amazing 360 degree views of the Heretaunga Plains. Look out on orchards and vineyards on the plains to forestry, sheep and cattle farming on the surrounding hills. The formations of the hills and lower plains were created by glacial activity during the last ice age and create an amazing sense of awe. The peak is on the AA list of 101 things Kiwis must see in New Zealand.
Before we leave we will look down into the Tuki Tuki valley at our next destination Craggy Range, a leading fine wine maker and home of restaurant Terroir. The wines at Craggy are made from grapes grown in Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough, Waipara and Central Otago. We will spend time here over lunch on the terrace with stunning views of Te Mata Peaks cliff side.
We now travel along the Tuki Tuki river valley route undoubtedly one of the most scenic pastoral and vineyard drives in New Zealand. Many compare this area to Tuscany. We wind our way through the river valley towards the coast.
Next stop will be Kim Crawford renowned for their stunning aromatic wines, Sauvignon Blanc's and Chardonnay’s. Enjoy a wine tasting with stunning views of the sea and the Mahia peninsula.
We then hit the coast road once again and drive back to Napier crossing the 4 main rivers in the region with stories being told of the history and the naming of these arterial waterways that are the life blood of Hawke’s Bay.
Cruise Excursions
Scenic Tour
Duration 3 hours - $95 pp
Tour Description
An amazing 3 hour journey through the orchards, vineyards, hills, river valleys and coastal areas of Hawke's Bay. Hear stories of Maori legends and past history as you travel your way through outstanding scenery. A tour designed for those who need a quick relaxing of the region. A very popular tour with the cruise ship passengers.
Service Description
Departing Napier we travel along the coast with views of Cape Kidnappers the site of Captain Cook’s first meeting with local Maori. Hear stories of Cooks first encounter as well as the tale of Maui a Maori God. We travel through the village of Clive and head inland towards Havelock North through the many orchards of the Hawke's Bay region. Hawke's Bay is the fruit capital of New Zealand producing the majority of New Zealand’s stone and pip fruit. We will have the opportunity throughout the day to stop at roadside stalls and sample local produce.
We drive to top of Te Mata Peak elevation 399 meters. Te Mata is short for Te Mata y Rongakako the face of the giant. You will hear more about this giant in stories told as we travel. From the top of Te Mata you will enjoy amazing 360 degree views of the Heretaunga Plains. Look out on orchards and vineyards on the plains to forestry, sheep and cattle farming on the surrounding hills. The formations of the hills and lower plains were created by glacial activity during the last ice age and create an amazing sense of awe. The peak is on the AA list of 101 things Kiwis must see in New Zealand. Before we leave we will look down into the Tuki Tuki valley at our next destination Craggy Range. We take time to stop here and take photographs of the cliff face of Te Mata. We will have time for a brief wine tasting for those who would like to try the wines We now travel along the Tuki Tuki river valley route undoubtedly one of the most scenic pastoral and vineyard drives in New Zealand. Many compare this area to Tuscany. We wind our way through the river valley towards the coast. Along the way we will stop for often as their will be a lot of photographic opportunities.
We then hit the coast road once again and drive back to Napier crossing the 4 main rivers in the region with stories being told of the history and the naming of these arterial waterways that are the life blood of Hawke’s Bay.
Tour Description
A tour for wine lovers with a sense of adventure
Service Description
Enjoy an exciting helicopter tour of the Hawke's Bay region with full commentary by your pilot and guide. Depart Napier or Bridge Pa and fly over the horticultural landscape of Hawke's Bay and surrounds. Zoom along the Hawke's Bay coastline; fly over Te Mata Peak and on to the Gimblett Gravels grape growing district.
End your flight at Black Barn for light lunch with matching wines.
During the afternoon you'll learn about the regions many different grape varieties and a little bit of local history. Once we reach our first winery we will take time to walk among the vines and learn about the unique growing conditions of the Gimblett Gravels district. You will taste classic red European varieties such as Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Pinot Noir. The area is also famous for the white varieties, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Semillon, Pinot Gris and Viognier. Four wineries will be visited during the tour with time taken to enjoy various cheeses from around New Zealand. At the end of your tour you will be dropped off at your accommodation.
Dress is casual and tidy
The weather
This tour may be cancelled due to severe weather conditions
Numbers in the group/on the day
Maximum group size will be six.
Operating Hours
9.30am - 10.00pm
Scheduled Daily Tours
9.30am - 5.00pm
1.00pm - 5.00pm
6.30pm to 10pm