Hawke's Bay earned a place among the Great Wine Capitals of the World in 2023, signifying the region's excellence and influence.
Hawke’s Bay joined an esteemed international network of 11 regions, including renowned regions such as Bordeaux, Cape Town, and Mendoza.
The accolade, facilitated by a dedicated collaboration led by Hawke’s Bay Tourism and involving key stakeholders including Hawke’s Bay Wine Growers, marks a united effort to propel the region’s global standing. Through a rigorous selection process, Hawke’s Bay showcased its exceptional contributions to viticulture, earning recognition for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and cultural enrichment.
Membership in the Great Wine Capitals network offers global recognition, enhancing Hawke’s Bay’s reputation as a premier wine destination. This affiliation fosters international collaboration, allowing for the exchange of knowledge, innovations, and best practices with other leading wine regions. The network actively engages in promotional activities, attracting wine enthusiasts and tourists to explore Hawke’s Bay’s diverse offerings, vineyards, and cultural richness, thereby boosting tourism and economic benefits.
Educationally, the network provides valuable resources for professionals in the wine industry, cultivating a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. In essence, being a Great Wine Capital propels Hawke’s Bay onto the world stage, opening doors for growth, collaboration, and sustainable development in the local wine industry.
Beyond the endorsement and brand validation benefits, HBWG have been working hard to leverage benefits for members and our wider community.
Opportunities
The Great Wine Capitals Brand Kit
Businesses and operators within Hawke's Bay can incorporate the Great Wine Capitals logo into their brand / company collateral and channels as appropriate.
Great Wine Capitals brand guidelines
Best of Wine Tourism Awards - 2025 Awards now Open
Entries for the 2025 Best of Wine Tourism Awards are now open.
To find out more about the Awards and this year's competition and how to enter - click here.
The Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards is a programme celebrating excellence and innovation in the wine tourism industry. They serve as a platform to showcase the exceptional experiences and services offered by wineries, vineyards and other wine-related businesses in Hawke's Bay.
Click here to see the 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Award Winners
International Research Grant
The Great Wine Capitals Global Network announced the launch of a new edition of the International Research Project to promote excellence and innovation in wine tourism research that addresses industry needs. Two grants of €7,500 each are to be awarded to two applicants who offer the best academic research with significant practical implications in this area.
The goal of the Grant is to support research that delivers practical insight to the wine tourism sector in the GWC regions, while also advancing academic knowledge on this topic. In addition to receiving the Grant, the Recipients will have the opportunity to present their work at the GWC Annual General Meeting.
Applications have for 2024 have closed.
For further information - click here.
Building Networks & Relationships
The GWC affiliation fosters international collaboration allowing for the exchange of knowledge, innovation and best practices with other leading wine regions.
David Peabody, Board Member and Marketing Manager for Craggy Range, was HBWG's representative on the HB delegation that attended the AGM in Lausanne, Switzerland in October 2023.
Inbound Knowledge Exchange
We were delighted to host Tracey Seibert from AWRI Adelaide in Hawke's Bay in October 2023. Tracey presented a highly relevant technical paper on current research at AWRI at the Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium and explored opportunities with EIT for collaboration.
Tracey's costs were met by the HB GWC Inbound Knowledge Exchange Fund.
Outbound Knowledge Exchange / Scholarships
The Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange (OKE) Programme is designed to ignite reciprocal knowledge sharing within the esteemed Great Wine Capitals Global Network. It is a programme that is only available to those working within a Great Wine Capital and is a benefit of Hawke’s Bay’s current commitment to the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange (OKE) Programme.
Supported by Hawke’s Bay Great Wine Capitals partners, three travel bursaries are available - two of $3,000 and one of $5,000 (GST excl.) - to support travel to one or more of the ten other Great Wine Capitals. Successful applicants will return with fresh insights, global connections and practical learnings to share with the wider Hawke’s Bay industry through a report and presentation.
Applications close Monday 2 March 2026. Apply now - GWC Knowledge Exchange Application Form 2026
For further information view the 2026 Outbound Knowledge Exchange Programme
Find out what our First Great Wine Capitals Knowledge Exchange Recipients learnt here.
Cite du Vin, Bordeaux
Hawke's Bay Wine has secured a prestigious showcase for its wines at Bordeaux's La Cite du Vin, a renowned global wine institution. La Cite du Vin is an impressive architectural landmark offering an immersive journey through the world of wine with interactive displays.
Guests will enjoy Hawke's Bay wines in a tasting room situated 35 meters above ground, alongside a diverse selection of international wines. With over 400,000 annual visitors, including prominent nationalities such as Spain, the UK, and the USA, this opportunity solidifies Hawke's Bay's position in the global wine community.
Through this partnership, the region can showcase up to 20 wines, contributing to the museum's international collection.
There is still opportunity for members to submit their wines for this opportunity. If you are interested in doing so and for further information please contact us.
Become a Great Wine Capitals Ambassador
Supporting our membership in the Great Wine Capitals of the World Group through our Ambassador category offers an excellent opportunity for businesses with a strong tourism focus to enhance their presence in this global initiative.
GWC Ambassadors are provided with an enhanced presence in any opportunities that arise through this initiative.
For further information contact us.
Webinars
Global Wine Tourism Report & Webinar - January 2026
A full presentation of the Global Wine Tourism Report 2025 carried out by Gergely Szlonoki (Geisenheim University) is the first opportunity for the international wine tourism community to explore the complete results of this landmark study. As the most comprehensive global survey ever conducted in the field, with input from 1,310 wineries across 47 countries, the report provides an unprecedented overview of the current state of wine tourism and the trends shaping its future.
Entertainment Wine Tourism - July 2025
Watch the session featuring Robin Shaw (Wine Tourism Australia) and Francis de Jager (Black Barn Vineyards, Hawke’s Bay) as they explore how immersive, entertainment-led experiences are shaping the future of wine tourism.
Annual Reports
Global Wine Tourism Report & Webinar - January 2026
This report highlights activities over the last year that reinforce the value and benefits gained from our membership.
Great Wine Capitals News
Great Wine Capitals Ambassadors
Our appreciation goes to those members who have joined us as Great Wine Capitals Ambassadors:
