Spend enough time around wineries, and you’ll hear whispers of the truly exceptional vintages – those that define a wine region’s character and legacy. 2013 was once hailed as the Vintage of a Century by some, but murmurs are already suggesting that 2025 could rival or even surpass it.
To put some substance behind the excitement, Hawke’s Bay Wine CEO Brent Linn spent an afternoon visiting wineries to hear first-hand how Vintage 2025 is shaping up.
His first stop was to Te Mata Estate in the Havelock Hills sub-region, where Senior Winemaker Phil Brodie and Chief Viticulturist Brenton O’Reily shared their early impressions.
They were excited about the outstanding quality of fruit that has already come into the winery and the potential for the wines. We spent some time with Phil and Brenton in the Coleraine Vineyard (Te Mata’s flagship Red Blend), which was on the cusp of harvest.
Phil answered my question, “Is this the one?” as follows: “From Budburst, this season has been unique. I was brought up here on the land. Hawke’s Bay’s terroir is so special, such diversity in topography, soils, meso climates, and people. In this beautiful season, we are experiencing the potential to detail this as a legendary one. It’s really exciting.”
Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst joined us for a ceremonial cutting of a bunch of grapes from the Coleraine vineyard – a refreshing change from the usual ribbon cutting duties! Mayor Sandra recognises the vital role the wine industry plays in Hawke’s Bay, particularly within the Hastings District, as a key driver of economic activity, tourism, and culture.
Mayor Sandra commented: “Hawke’s Bay produces some of the finest wines in the world, and here in Hastings, we are proud to be the heart of our region’s wine-growing success. The Heretaunga region provides the perfect climate and soils for world-class viticulture, making wine a vital part of our economy. Beyond its contribution to our GDP, the wine industry plays a huge role in tourism and hospitality, bringing visitors from New Zealand and beyond to experience our amazing cellar doors, restaurants, and events. Our recent recognition as one of the Great Wine Capitals of the World is a testament to the excellence, innovation, and sustainability of our winemakers. As a community, we celebrate our deep winemaking heritage and look forward to seeing our region’s reputation continue to grow on the global stage.”
Also joining the visit was Sally Duncan, Chair of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers, who reinforced the vital importance that wine and wine businesses play in Hawke’s Bay’s economy and identity. Sally commented: “Our wonderful and talented wine community will put Hawke’s Bay’s name and reputation on over 32 million bottles of wine this vintage. That’s 32 million bottles of Hawke’s Bay sunshine, terroir and talent gracing tables and celebrations across New Zealand and worldwide – while contributing over half a billion dollars to the region’s GDP.”
Next, we visited Brookfields Winery on the outskirts of Napier, where most of its grapes come from the Ohiti subregion vineyard. Here, we caught up with Peter Robertson, a veteran of the industry who has overseen more vintages than most in Hawke’s Bay. Peter confided that Vintage 2025 marks his 51st harvest – making him the perfect person to ask: “Could this be the one?”
Peter, in his usual understated manner, was hesitant to make a definitive call, noting that they were only halfway through vintage. However, he shared his early impressions: “The white varieties – Chardonnay and Pinot Gris in particular – are of exceptional quality and have the promise of making great wines. We are just about to start harvesting our Reds, starting with Merlot, and the fruit quality is exceptional. Ask me again once we are through ferment, “is this the one?”, but I like the prospects.”
Our next stop was Craggy Range, where we had hoped to catch up with Senior Winemaker Ben Tombs to hear his take on the vintage, especially regarding the Gimblett Gravels subregion.
As expected, vintage was in full swing, and Ben was deep in the harvest. However, he shared this insight: “The season started warm and dry, leading to an excellent flowering and an early start. Despite a cooler summer, we’ve had our earliest harvest on record, with the first Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay picked on February 8. The fruit shows vibrant acidity alongside moderate alcohol – a fantastic way to kick off Vintage 2025. We’re now waiting for optimal ripeness in our Bordeaux varieties and Syrah. With early ripeness and fruit in pristine condition, excitement is building for what’s shaping up to be a classic year for both reds and whites.”
With that, we wrapped up our day with a quiet beer in the garden bar of the Meanee Hotel, reflecting on what we’d heard.
A warm, dry growing season has provided ideal conditions across the region. With abundant sunshine hours, winemakers are bringing in pristine fruit at optimal ripeness, highlighting the exceptional quality Hawke’s Bay is known for.
This year’s vintage is shaping up to be one of significance. With strong yields and the potential for standout wines across key varieties, the 2025 vintage is set to reinforce Hawke’s Bay’s reputation for world-class Chardonnay, Syrah, and Red Blends.
As grapes make their way from vineyard to winery, early signs point to wines with depth, elegance, and a true sense of place. With these promising conditions, the 2025 vintage is expected to captivate collectors and wine lovers alike and make a mark on the global stage.
The promise is there, so let’s revisit our question of “is this the one” in a couple of months. One thing is certain: Hawke’s Bay continues to set the benchmark for premium New Zealand wine, and this latest vintage is another testament to the region’s ability to produce wines of exceptional character and longevity.
Hawke’s Bay – a Great Wine Capital and one of the world’s great wine regions.
