Napier, a vibrant city on New Zealand’s North Island, offers a tantalizing opportunity for wine and gin enthusiasts. The Afternoon Wine Gin Tasting Tour takes adventurous travelers on a 4.5-hour journey through the region’s finest wineries and a renowned gin distillery. Guests can expect to savor exquisite wines, paired with delectable cheese boards, while exploring the historic Mission Estate and Askerne Estate. The tour also includes a captivating visit to the National Gin Distillery, where visitors can learn about the distillation process and sample unique gin flavors. With scenic drives through lush orchards and vineyards, this tour promises to uncover the rich viticulture heritage of Hawke’s Bay. What more could one desire in an afternoon of indulgence?
This experience made our list of the 25 Best Tours In Napier.
Key Points
- This 4.5-hour tour offers a comprehensive wine and gin tasting experience in Napier, including visits to two wineries and a gin distillery.
- Highlights include sampling 4-7 wines at the historic Mission Estate and a seated tasting with a cheese board at Askerne Estate.
- The tour also includes a scenic drive through picturesque orchards and vineyards, as well as a gin tasting at the National Gin Distillery.
- Pickup and drop-off, guided transportation, tastings, a cheese board, and a souvenir wine glass are all included in the price from €87.80 per person.
- The tour is highly rated, with positive feedback on the guide, transportation, and organization, though some areas for service improvement have been noted.
Tour Overview
The ‘Napier: Afternoon Wine Gin Tasting Tour‘ is a 4.5-hour experience that allows visitors to explore two wineries and a gin distillery in the Napier region, offering a diverse range of tastings and a scenic drive through orchards and vineyards.
Priced from €87.80 per person, the tour includes pickup and drop-off, a knowledgeable guide, wine tastings at the historic Mission Estate and Askerne Estate, a gin tasting at the National Gin Distillery, a cheese board, a souvenir wine glass, and bottled water.
Cancellations can be made up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour is conducted in English and has an overall rating of 4.8/5 based on 128 reviews.
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Itinerary Highlights
On this tour, visitors will visit two wineries and a gin distillery, experiencing tastings that showcase the region’s diverse offerings.
At the historic Mission Estate, established in 1851, guests can sample 4-7 wines including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Next, they’ll visit Askerne Estate, which produces 100,000 bottles across 13 varietals, and enjoy a seated tasting accompanied by a New Zealand cheese board.
The final stop is the National Gin Distillery, where visitors can taste five gins.
Throughout the tour, they’ll also enjoy a scenic drive through the area’s orchards and vineyards.
Inclusions
This tour includes pickup and drop-off, an experienced tour guide, wine tastings at two wineries, a tasting at the National Gin Distillery, a New Zealand cheese board, a Mission Estate branded wine glass as a souvenir, and bottled water. Optional beer tasting fees may also be available.
The tour’s inclusions can be summarized in the following table:
Inclusion | Details |
---|---|
Transportation | Pickup and drop-off |
Tastings | Wine tastings at 2 wineries, Gin tasting at National Gin Distillery |
Refreshments | New Zealand cheese board, Bottled water |
Souvenir | Mission Estate branded wine glass |
Optional Add-on | Beer tasting fees |
These inclusions ensure a well-rounded and memorable wine and gin tasting experience in Napier.
Important Information
Comfortable shoes are recommended for participants, as the tour involves visiting multiple locations and walking through vineyards and orchards.
Those with mobility impairments or in wheelchairs may find the tour unsuitable. It’s important to note that the tour isn’t suitable for people with mobility issues, and travelers should be prepared for changes in the schedule or itinerary.
Plus, certain schedule restrictions apply, such as no gin tastings on Sundays and no beer tastings on Mondays or Tuesdays, while the itinerary may vary due to seasonal adjustments.
The tour offers a comprehensive wine and gin tasting experience with scenic drives through the picturesque Napier region.
More Great Thing To Do NearbyCustomer Feedback
Overall, customers have expressed highly favorable sentiments about the Napier: Afternoon Wine Gin Tasting Tour, with a guide rating of 4.9/5 and transportation rating of 4.9/5 indicating excellent satisfaction levels.
The tour’s organization has also received a perfect 5/5 score, with reviewers praising the seamless coordination.
However, the service rating of 4.5/5 suggests some room for improvement, potentially in areas like food offerings or wine pourings.
Notably, customers have provided positive feedback on the experiences at Mission Estate and the National Gin Distillery, though a few expressed disappointment with the boutique winery.
Plus, solo travelers have requested more accommodations, such as designated bookings or group pairings.
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Winery Offerings
The tour offers a diverse array of winery experiences, showcasing the rich viticulture heritage of the Napier region.
At Mission Estate, the oldest winery in New Zealand, guests can savor 4-7 wines, including the renowned Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc varietals.
In contrast, the Askerne Estate provides a more intimate seated tasting, complemented by a New Zealand cheese board, allowing visitors to explore the nuances of their 13 distinct grape cultivars.
These contrasting yet complementary winery experiences give guests a comprehensive understanding of the region’s winemaking traditions and the exceptional quality of its local produce.
Gin Distillery Experience
Beyond the winery experiences, the tour also takes guests to the National Gin Distillery, where they can sample a selection of five distinct gin offerings.
Visitors embark on an immersive gin tasting, delving into the unique flavors and botanicals that define this artisanal spirit. The tasting experience allows participants to:
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Discover the diverse range of gins produced by the distillery, each with its own distinct character and profile.
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Learn about the intricate distillation process and the careful selection of botanicals that contribute to the gin’s distinctive taste.
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Appreciate the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into creating these premium gin expressions.
The gin tasting complements the winery visits, providing a well-rounded exploration of Napier’s vibrant beverage scene.
Scenic Drive
Interspersed throughout the tour, guests often enjoy a scenic drive through the picturesque orchards and vineyards surrounding Napier, providing a delightful visual accompaniment to the tasting experiences.
The drive winds through lush, rolling landscapes dotted with rows of grape vines and fruit trees, offering a glimpse into the agricultural heartland of the region.
Travelers can admire the area’s natural beauty, from the vibrant greens of the foliage to the stunning vistas of distant hills.
This scenic component adds a serene and peaceful element to the overall tour, allowing participants to fully enjoy the serene Hawke’s Bay countryside between the indulgent wine and gin tastings.
Recap
The Napier: Afternoon Wine Gin Tasting Tour offers a delightful and immersive experience, allowing visitors to explore the region’s renowned wineries and a gin distillery.
With tastings of exquisite wines and unique gin flavors, paired with stunning scenic drives, this tour provides an unforgettable opportunity to savor the rich viticulture heritage of Hawke’s Bay.
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