thisNZlife

History

The Hawke's Bay is New Zealand's oldest wine region. Although the majority of its vineyards are in Hastings, the Mission Estate in Napier was New Zealand's first, founded in 1851 by Catholic Marist missionaries. Though they initially planted their vines to make sacramental wines, small amounts were being sold by 1870.

The fathers purchased more land for winemaking in 1897, and in 1909 the original Mission Estate building located in flood-prone Meeanee was cut into 11 sections and moved via traction engines to its current location in Taradale. Te Mata Estate in Havelock North is close behind in the contest for the oldest winery. Vines were was first planted in 1892 on Bernard Chambers' Te Mata Station beneath the Havelock hills, and this area is now councilprotected for its viticultural heritage.

MUST DO

en-nz

2021-11-12T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-12T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thisnzlife.pressreader.com/article/282668985194134

NZ Lifestyle Magazine Group