HAWKE’S BAY to the west of the Ruahine Range, which straddles the North Island’s tectonic fault line. Hawke’s Bay does not experience the volcanic activity of the country to the northwest, though in 1931 its proximity to this massive join in the earth’s crust was truly felt. The Hawke’s Bay earthquake originated many kilometres underground and pushed over 150,000 hectares of land and sea bed upwards, devastating the townships of Napier and Hastings. As the land rose, sea water drained from the wetlands around Napier and more than 2,000 hectares of new land was inherited by the town. Most of the rebuilding took place in the 1930s during the colourful years of art deco design, and as a consequence the city of Napier is today known for its abundance of art deco architecture.
Hawke’s Bay lies directly
Hawke’s Bay’s winemaking was originated in the 1850s by French missionaries of the Society of Mary (Marists). They planted a small vineyard near Meeanee to make table and sacramental wine and later moved north to Taradale. Steeped in history, this religious wine endeavour thrives to this day in Taradale with the appropriate name of Mission Estate. Around the turn of the twentieth century, two other significant vineyard sites were planted, both of which became synonymous with New Zealand’s finest examples of cabernet sauvignon. Bartholomew Steinmetz planted a vineyard along Church Road, also in Taradale, and upon returning to Europe left it in the control of a very young Tom McDonald. Tom aspired to make the country’s finest Bordeaux-variety red wines and went on to produce the country’s first commercial cabernet sauvignon. Almost simultaneously Bernard Chambers planted vines on the north-facing slopes of Te Mata Peak. The Te Mata
Dawn sky above the Gimblett Gravels and Te Mata Peak
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