Church Road Winery

The basics

Few visitors leave the Hawke’s Bay region of the North Island without indulging in some fine wine and good food (and none should). As one of the most established wineries of the region, Church Road Winery is a fixture on many wine-focused itineraries, offering a number of different wine-tasting packages through the estate’s Cellar Door.

Visitors can head to Church Road Winery independently or on a tour, as many group or private guided tours of Hawke’s Bay wineries combine a visit to Church Road with other producers around Napier, Hastings, and Havelock North. For a more leisurely visit, pair a glass or two of wine with a good meal at Orton’s restaurant.

Things to know before you go

• Reservations are highly recommended to dine at Orton’s, and are essential from December through February. Most of the wine-tasting packages at the Cellar Door should also be booked in advance.

• Note that the restaurant is not allowed to serve alcohol after the kitchen has closed, so make sure to imbibe all you like with your food.

• The wine-tasting experiences offered at the Cellar Door each have a different cost, depending on their scope and duration—some include a souvenir glass.

How to get there

Church Road Winery is in Taradale, a suburb of Napier city. Guided tours are an optimal way of visiting Hawke’s Bay’s wineries, including Church Road, so you don’t need to choose a designated driver. If you’re not joining a tour, driving yourself is the quickest way of getting to Church Road Winery. Alternatively, the No. 13 goBay bus (Napier, Tamatea, and Taradale Loop) is convenient, as there’s a stop right outside the winery.

When to get there

Bookings should be made in advance for both wine-tasting packages and dining. The Cellar Door is open daily from late morning to late afternoon; the restaurant is open for lunch Thursday to Monday, and is also open for dinner in certain seasons. The Cellar Door and the restaurant are both closed on select public holidays. In the summer, live music is often held in the gardens.

Visit New Zealand’s oldest winery

While Church Road is one of New Zealand’s oldest wineries, the oldest is Mission Estate, founded more than 45 years earlier by French missionaries. It’s in the Taradale Hills, very near Church Road, so you can easily visit both wineries on the same day. The estate offers tours, tastings, accommodations, and dining, and also hosts events and concerts.