Hawkes Bay is the country's second largest region. The varied topography and wide range of soil types, from fertile silty loams to free-draining shingle, produces a considerable range of wine styles.
Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape variety but the long sunshine hours attract a high percentage of later-ripening red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, as well as the early ripening Pinot Noir.
(More information: www.nzwine.com)